Visakha Utsav which is being organised after a gap of a few years will be conducted as a people’s festival, Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao said here on Monday.
The Utsav is being conducted to improve the brand image of the city and to explain to outsiders that the city was the most happening place and the arrangements were being done on a full scale for the January 23-25 festival, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said at a press conference after holding a review meeting with officials and MLAs.
A festive atmosphere would be created all over the city. All traffic islands and intersections would be decorated. The statues on the beach road would be cleaned and painted with a uniform colour. All buildings on the beach road would be decorated and on the final day of the festival 100 boats would anchor on the beach parallel to the main venue of the festival. They would be decorated with lights. While RK beach is the main venue, programmes would be held at Shilparamam in Madhurawada, VUDA Park, Kailasagiri and Gurajada Kalakshetram. Several programmes had been lined up at all the venues on all the three days. APSRTC would run free services to the venues from different places of the city.
Along with film actor and classical dancer Shobana, drummer Sivamani, Malgudi Subha, and singer Sunita, several local artistes would perform at the venues.
The Utsav would be inaugurated by Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu at RK beach on the afternoon of January 23 . A carnival consisting of 1000 artistes, replicas of famous temples, industries and historic spots of the region, accompanied by the Navy band, would start at the Park hotel junction and end at the meeting venue at RK beach.
Arragement of Prabha , famous in Godavari and Guntur districts, would make a debut in Visakha Utsav. A 100 feet tall Prabha would be kept near RK beach. Before the Utsav commenced, competitions in different events would be held.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would be chief guest of the closing function on the evening of January 25.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao said every aspect of the Visakha Utsav would be transparent.
The three-day festivities will show to outsiders that the City of Destiny is the most happening place, says Ganta
