Kakatiya Heritage Festival begins

Warangal: A week-long Kakatiya Heritage Festival was launched in a grand manner here on Friday.A The festival marks the year-long celebration of 'Kakatiya Festival' and the recognition granted to Warangal city as the 'Best Heritage City' by Union Tourism Department recently. As part of it, the State Government is conducting the celebrations from April 12 to 18 involving artistes of national repute. The celebrations were scheduled to be held at Warangal Fort, Ramappa temple and others. Backward Communities Welfare Minister Baswraju Saraiah launched the festival at Warangal Fort on Friday evening. Speaking on the occasion, he felt happy for conducting the celebrations after the city was recognised as the best heritage city and said that both the State and Central Governments were committed to the development of Warangal. The Minister averred that such events would attract large number of tourists to the city and said that he had urged Union Tourism Department, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to release more funds towards tourism development here. A coordination meeting with officials of the Tourism Department and ASI, Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA) and Warangal Municipal Corporation along with district administration would be held soon to prepare an action plan, he said. Earlier on the day, he speaking to press persons informed that an GO with regard to the formation of Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation would be issued soon. Soon after that the city would witness a series of development activities. He appealed to the Opposition leaders not to politicise the issue of Greater Warangal Corporation. The move was aimed at all round development of the city, he asserted. As part of the Heritage Festival, a famous classical dancer Padma Sri, Ananda Shanker Jayant and troupe has presented Bharatanatyam at Warangal Fort. Kuchipudi dance by Vempati Nageshwari and troupe, Andhra Natyam and Perini dance by Perini Ranjith and troupe were also held. Warangal MP S Rajaiah, Rajya Sabha member G Sudha Rani, Warangal (West) MLA D Vinay Bhasker, Urban and Rural Superintendents of Police A Venkateshwara Rao and G Palaraju, Joint Collector PS Pradyumna and others were present. Marking the festival, a photo exhibition was organised and two bus services to transport kids below 14 years of age freely to Thousand Pillars Temple, Warangal Fort, Zoo Park and others were launched on the day.