Amaravati Avakai Festival Concludes, Set to Become Flagship Festival
Durgesh went on to announce that the next edition of the festival will be held from December 17 to December 19, 2026.
Vijayawada: The three-day Amaravati Avakai Festival, celebrating Telugu culture, cuisine, literature and performing arts, concluded in grand manner on Saturday evening along the Krishna Riverfront. The festival has drawn an overwhelming response, with more than 45,000 visitors attending the festival events over three days.
Addressing the valedictory ceremony, Tourism and Culture minister Kandula Durgesh announced the state government’s decision to make Amaravati Avakai Festival an annual flagship cultural event, in line with the vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
He went on to announce that the next edition of the festival will be held from December 17 to December 19, 2026.
The third and final day of the festival unfolded into a rich celebration of Telugu storytelling, literature, cinema and traditional arts. Morning sessions featured Katha Kalakshepam by StoryHour UK, blending narration, music and rhythm. Words on Water (Katha Tarangalu) followed, with scholars and writers reflecting on Telugu oral traditions, padyam, avadhana prakriya and the language’s deep links with Sanskrit.
Discussions highlighted Telugu as an Ammabhasha rooted in nature, culture and collective memory.
Cinema and literary discourse took centre stage in sessions such as Friday Release: Cinema and Journalism and Sundaramaina Telugu. It explored storytelling across cinema, television and literature, audience behaviour, OTT platforms and the enduring legacy of Telugu creative traditions.
The Art of Translation: Words without Borders session examined the challenges of carrying cultural nuance across languages.
The day witnessed parallel hands-on workshops in martial arts, percussion, dance, puppet-making and Kalamkari art, offering immersive experiences that blended tradition with contemporary expression.
The Krishna Riverfront came alive in the evening with vibrant performances at the Punnami Ghat. Popular band Chowraasta set the tone with an energetic live act, followed by a tribute to Telugu cinema legends and a musical theatre presentation.
Singer Javed Ali brought the festival to a soulful close with a stirring performance. Around 15,000 visitors thronged Bhavani Island and nearly 30,000 attended programmes at Punnami Ghat.
Those present included several MLAs, senior officials and cultural figures.