Plans afoot for state-wide tourism fest

Amaravati: As a part of promoting culture and tourism, the government is planning tourism festivals across the state, which will commence in the month of September. The fest is likely to start from Dasara and will continue till Sankranti, wherein hundreds of artistes and innumerable programmes are envisaged to attract the tourists as well as locals during holidays and festivals.

Highlights:

• Series of fests planned by government across the state
• Fest to start from Dasara and last till Sankranti

The government has released Rs 65 crore for conducting tourism festival in a big way. Culture and tourism department officials were directed to ensure the success of the fest, which would be held at Amaravati, Anantapur, Rajamahendravaram and Tirupati, covering various events like culture, heritage, sports, crafts melas, music and dance programmes etc.

According to Mukesh Kumar Meena, secretary to culture and tourism department, the tourism festival will be conducted in a big way at Capital Amaravati for the first time in the newly-formed state. “Events will be conducted for 19 days, for which the government has released Rs 17 crore,” he informed.

“We have commenced tourism festivals across the state basing on the advance preparation of calendar year, which will be very helpful to the tourists, who can make arrangements in advance,” Meena said.

Buddhism festival will be conducted for two days, for which the dates have to be decided. Literature Fest and Thought Leadership (October 19-22) Fest, Theatre Fest (September 15-17), Regatta Championship, a maritime boat display and riverine sports (January 26-28), Amaravati Music and Dance Festival (December 12-16), Youtube awards for Social Media Entrepreneurship will be conducted for two days, for which the dates have yet to be finalised.

Visakhapatnam will witness 26 days grand events for which the government has released Rs 16 crore. As part of Visakha festival, Sand Marathon (November 11-12), Visakha Utsav (December 22-25), Fringe Festival which includes performance of street artists (October 7-8), Yacht Pentagonal (December first week), Pro Kabaddi League for 4 days in December, Sound on the Clouds of Vizag, A maritime boat and yacht display for 2 days during last week of September, Cooking Olympiad (January 22-28) will be conducted.
In Rajamahendravaram, a music concert featuring AR Rahman will be the major attraction, for which the dates have yet to be decided. Other major events including Konaseema Sankranti (January 13, 14), Godavari Dance and Lantern show (October 21, 22), Drone Light Show (November 19) have been drawn as part of promoting culture and heritage.

Tirupati will have Crafts Mela (October 12-15), World Spiritual Week (January 12-14), Dhool, a five-day sports events during first two weeks of December, Flamingo Festival in Nellore district for three days during last week of December.
In Anantapur, Gandikota festival will be held between January 21-23 and Lepakshi festival between February 24-25, next year. Jungle Tales, a tribal preservation festival will be held between December 8-10.