Visakha Utsav will be celebrated as a State festival and will be conducted in the month of December every year, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has said.
Reading out the message of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was unable to make it to the festival on the concluding day of the Utsav on Sunday, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said that Mr. Naidu was taking all possible measures to convert the City of Destiny into a financial hub.
“Buoyed by the response of the people, the festival will be featured as an annual affair, with much revived vigour,” he declared.
There was a thunderous applause as actor and Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna delivered a punch dialogue from his upcoming film ‘Lion’.
“Visakhapatnam will soon be developed as the financial capital of the State. Festivals such as these will pave the way for the city to be developed into a smart city,” he said.
As the skyline was dotted with fireworks, actor and Bharatanatyam dancer Sobhana performed a classical dance gracefully. Presenting a neat footwork that synchronised well with the background music, her dance left a deep impact on the audience.
There was a display of fireworks from the boats by Mandugundu Sitaramayya and Sons from Anakapalle. While the team from South Africa staged acrobatics in the form of ‘African Safari’, Prince Dance Troupe from Odisha charmed the audience with their Bhagavad Gita theme dance. The carnival came to a close with the musical fete presented by music director Thaman.
Ministers — Ch. Ayyana Patrudu, B. Gopalakrishna Reddy, P. Raghunatha Reddy, and G. Srinivasa Rao, District Collector N. Yuvaraj, and GVMC Commissioner Pravin Kumar spoke.
Flower show extended
In view of the tremendous public response to the display organised as part of the three-day Visakha Utsav that concluded on Sunday, the organisers decided to extend the Flower Show at VUDA Park and the exhibition stalls at the Ramakrishna Beach by two days.
The shows will now conclude on Tuesday, Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao announced at the valedictory of the Utsav.
The Flower Show is open for public at the VUDA Park from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. VUDA Vice Chairman T Baburao Naidu said in a statement. On Sunday, all the four venues of the Visakha Utsav saw heavy turnout. Presence of actor and Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna added to the attraction at the Flower Show. The actor MLA complimented VUDA officials for arranging the flower fest in a very attractive way. VUDA Vice Chairman T Baburao Naidu explained the features and arrangements of the flower show to Balakrishna. HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu and others were present. On Sunday, evergreen social drama of Gurajada Appa Rao – Kanyasulkam – was presented by artistes of KV Memorial Arts Association at Gurajada Kalakshetram. It was directed by P. Siva Prasad.
Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who read out the message of Chief Minister
N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is unable to make it to the celebration, says the festival will be conducted in the month of December every year
