After the river ghats and the Durga temple, the picturesque settings and the cultural programmes being hosted at various venues across the city are turning out to be the crowd-pullers, giving the much-needed entertainment and relief to the multitude of visiting pilgrims.
The Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium (IGMC), Tummalapalli Kshetrayyavari Kalakshetram and Hamsaladeevi, where the government is organising cultural programmes during the ongoing Krishna Pushkarams, have become the main attractions for the visitors.
Cultural events are also being staged at Nagayalanka, Avanigadda, Muktyala, Peddakallepalli, Vedadri, Seetanagaram and other places in Krishna and Guntur districts for the last 10 days.
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Priority is being given to traditional and folk art forms like Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Yakshaganam, Chakkabajana, Tappeta Gullu, Garagaralu, Burrakatha, puppet show, butta bommalu, kathisamu, karrasamu and kolatam besides street plays and hasyavallari.
Dramas such as Chintamani, Palnati Charitra, Mohini Basmasura, Tambura Katha, Rama Dandu, Satya Harischandra are being staged by cultural troupes from East and West Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Nellore districts. “The cultural shows are providing the much-needed relief to pilgrims after the ‘pushkar snanam’ and darshan of the deity,” said a devotee K. Nagamani at the Pavitra Sangamam Ghat at Ibrahimpatnam. “Cultural programmes are being conducted from 5 p.m. to 9. 30 p.m. everyday,” said an officer on deputation at the IGMC.
Decoration and illumination of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) replica temple at the PWD grounds and the flower show, museum, ayurvedic medical camp and a book stall arranged at the ground are an added attraction for the 12-day festival.
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The setting for Nava Harati at Pavitra Sangamam and the TTD Harati programmes were drawing huge crowds.
Priority is being given to traditional and folk art forms like Kuchipudi and Yakshaganam