Hyderabad: The AP Tourism department will be organizing crowd pullers like fireworks and food festivals at various venues during the Godavari Pushkaram.
The department is also in talks with international filmmakers including the National Geographic Channel, to film the mega event as part of its promotional activities.
Various tourism promotional activities like fireworks and food festivals have been lined up by the tourism department with a budget outlay of Rs 400 crore to give the Pushkaram visitors an opportunity to enjoy other aspects of tourism too.
While Rajahmundry is the key Pushkaram venue in AP, nearby locations like Konaseema, Dindi resort and Antharvedi would be highlighted through special package tours.
The tourism department will be capturing the entire Pushkaram celebrations on film, covering all activities across locations in AP, by engaging international filmmakers. It will be telecast post Pushkaram to showcase the destinations of AP to tourists across the world.
National Geographic Channel has been approached for the same, although it’s not yet finalized.
In AP, Kovvuru in West Godavari, Rajahmundry, Annavaram, Pattiseema, Drasksharamam and Antharvedi in East Godavari draw huge crowds during Pushkarams.
The tourism department is also planning a sky lantern festival (Akasa Deepalu) on the inaugural day at Rajahmundry, East Godavari District. A venue that can accommodate 50,000 people to release lanterns will be complete with barricades and safety arrangements. A sand art festival will be held from July 13 to July 25 at Narsapuram.
