Traditional fervour marks Ugadi

Devotees listening in rapt attention, as a priest reads out the ‘panchangam’ on the occasion of Ugadi at a temple in the city on Tuesday. (Right) Gopalakrishna Murthy, who reads the almanac, being felicitated at a separate programme. Photos: K.R. Deepak and C.V. Subrahmanyam

District Revenue Officer D. Venkata Reddy on Tuesday said that the Telugu New Year – Sri Vikrutinama samvatsaram – would provide peace and prosperity to people and ensure all-round development of the district. He was speaking at the Ugadi celebrations organised by the District Cultural Council and Sahrudaya Sahiti at Zilla Praja Parishad.

“Last year has left many bitter memories. But the New Year should be good to all,” he hoped. Society would prosper if poets and artistes were happy and the ‘kavisammelanam' and cultural programmes organised during Ugadi celebrations reflected our culture and traditions, Mr. Venkata Reddy said.

Vice-president of Sahrudaya Sahiti D. Lalita Kumari presided. Assistant Director of Information Department B. Nookaraju conducted the programme. Pilla Venkata Ramana compeered.

Cultural programmes

Members of the District Cultural Council Jampana Kumara Varma, K.G. Venu, Kosana, S. Narayana Rao, Sekharamantri Prabhakara Rao and many poets participated.

The cultural programmes commenced with ‘nadaswaram' and Chebolu Gopalakrishna Murthy explained what was going to happen during the year in his ‘panchanga sravanam'. Poet, writer and artist Dwivedula Somanatha Sastry was felicitated. The Gayatri Music and Dance Academy presented a cultural programme under the guidance of Gayatri and choreographer Babu Rao. Udaya Lakshmi, Harika and Sailaja in ‘Vinayaka Koutam' and Tanusri Biswas, Neelaveni, Bhagya Sri, Sailaja, Anita, Jyoti, Likhita, Poorna and Reeshma in the dance ‘Ayagiri Nandini…' impressed the audience.

Balaganesh and troupe sang melodious songs like ‘tenakanna madhuram ra Telugu', ‘Sivoham'. Master Neelakantham and his troupe presented ‘Dasavataram' and Jalari folk dances.

Later, a ‘kavisammelanam' was conducted with Mr. Sekharamantri Prabhakara Rao as commentator in which Dr. Venu, Bandi Satyanarayana, Dr. Lalita Kumari, Kovila, Bhagavatula Krishna Rao, M.V.S. Bhuvaneswara Rao, Pilla Venkata Ramanamurthy, B. Nookaraju, G.K. Subrahmanyam, Lalita Vashista, Uppala Appala Raju and Garimella Nageswara Rao participated.