Bhajan, Folk Artistes on Long March

• Demand the TTD to implement the assurances it has promised two years ago
• The long march to conclude in Tirumala on Sept 27

Tirupati: Traditional Bhajan artistesare on the long march to press TTD to implement the assurances it has given two years back to folk and Bhajan artists. 

The artistesunder the banner of ‘Janapadavruthi Kalakarula Sangham (JKS) set out on the long march from Madanapalle in the district on Thursday and will reach Tirumala on September 27. 

Traditional folk and Bhajan artistesfrom various mandals in the district, who joined in the march, explaining the people in the villages and towns enroute on the imminent need of preserving and promoting the age-old folk-art forms and Bhajan traditions that are on the verge of extinct after giving their performance. 

They also did not miss to remind the public about TTD, the richest Hindu religious institution duty bound to protect the traditional art forms that were born long ago for promoting our religion, culture and customs through various folk art forms but ignoring the artistesand Gurus. 

JKS president Pulimamidi Yadagiri talking to The Hans over phone from Chintaparthi in Vayalpadu mandal where the artistesbreak their journey for the night, on Saturday said after a prolonged struggle by the Bhajan artistesfrom various districts in 2016, TTD management assured JKS to provide the transport charges to all the artistesparticipating in the ‘Akhand Bhajan’ in Tirumala and also instruments like Tabala, Tal, Harmonium and public address system to the temples to which the Bhajan troupes (mandalis) registered with TTD are attached but it was still to be executed. 

The TTD also consented to organise felicitation of Gurus of the folk arts and Bhajan forms with purse and Swamy Prasadams and also provide insurance cover to the artistesof the Bhajan troupes that are registered with TTD Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishd (HDPP). 

Orders to this effect issued by TTD in 2016 but assurances are still only on papers, he lamented. Yadagiri said that besides the four demands that the TTD committed to implement, the JKS put forth three more demands for the welfare of the artistesengaged lifelong in promotion of Bhakti cult which is inseparable part and essential for the survival of Hindu faith. 

The demands are registration of (new) Bhajan mandalis including 15 members of the troupe, providing darshan facility to Gurus and also the instrument artistesof the troupes, issuing of identity cards to the members of all the registered troupes and giving opportunity to folk and Bhajan troupes to perform in TTD programmes like Mana Gudi, Kunkuma pooja and Go pooja and other mass programmes being held state-wide. For achieving the 7 demands, the 125-km long march was taken up and added that the  marchers will reach Alipiri at 2 pm on September 27 and set out on foot through the foot path to Tirumala. 

Folk and Bhajan troupes will take up Akhandanama Sankirthan on the holy hills, to protest in novel way the apathy of the TTD in conceding the demands. The non-stop Bhajans and folk-art performances would go on till the TTD relent, Yadagiri declared. 

District Vyavasaya Sangham secretary K Kumar Reddy who also joined the march said that as the artistesare peasants and farmhands took up Bhajan tradition out of sheer interest devotion. 

They are not expecting anything from TTD but a token support to enable them to carrying the ancient tradition of Bhakti.