Khammam: Balostav-2014, a national-level three-day children’s festival began amidst much fanfare in Kothagudem on Friday.
About 2,000 kids from five states Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha apart from Telangana districts reached the coal town to display their creativity in Telugu language, culture, traditions, folk songs and dances. The organisers expect another 15,000 kids from various districts in Telangana to take part in the festival in the next three days.
A 14-member children’s delegation from Pushpa Vihar School, Delhi was the main attraction to the function.
Mahathi, head of the Delhi Telugu children’s delegation, hoisted the Balostav flag on the occasion. Rasheed, the visually-challenged boy of ‘Rela-Rela’ fame participated in the program.
Telugu Bhasha Satakam, a CD prepared by Srinivas, headmaster of the government high school and another music CD on Kothagudem Balostav made by Vengala Bhaskar were unveiled by poet and balladeer Ande Sri.
Ande Sri said that the children can lead their life happily if they can take home the memories of the festival with them.
Painting, playlet analysis, Telugu Matladadaam (speak in Telugu) competitions, folk and light songs, short film review, story analysis, poem writing, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, folk dance, quiz and playlets were held on the first day.
Balostav convenor V. Ramesh said that the festival had started as town event in 1991 and is now a national-level festival.
SCCL has been extending cooperation to the event by providing accommodation and programme venues.
