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Education minister Nara Lokesh, who also lit the lamp along with Venkaiah Naidu, said the Utsav would showcase the region’s rich culture, history and arts to the present generation. He hoped that the festival would soon earn a stature similar to the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
VIJAYAWADA: Former Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the Vijayawada Utsav here on Monday along with several state ministers.
Education minister Nara Lokesh, who also lit the lamp along with Venkaiah Naidu, said the Utsav would showcase the region’s rich culture, history and arts to the present generation. He hoped that the festival would soon earn a stature similar to the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
The 11-day festival, organised by the Society for Vibrant Vijayawada with government support, was inaugurated at Punnami Ghat in a spectacular ceremony.
Special prayers were conducted to goddess Durga. Later, a dazzling fireworks and drone show lit up the Krishna riverfront, enthralling thousands of spectators.
Addressing the gathering, Lokesh described Vijayawada as a land sanctified by the blessings of Goddess Durga atop Indrakeeladri and River Krishna at the foothill. “Victory is embedded in the name of Vijayawada. Any work begun with the darshan of Durga is bound to succeed,” he said.
Extending his Dasara greetings, Lokesh said the Vijayawada Utsav aimed to serve itself as a grand stage for artists across India, with more than 3,000 performers showcasing 30 art forms in a record-scale cultural carnival.
He said, “People have long spoken about Mysuru Dasara. Soon Vijayawada will become synonymous with Dasara celebrations. Like London’s Winter Wonderland, this festival must grow into a permanent global attraction. Vijayawada’s strategic location would make the Utsav a cultural hub of Andhra Pradesh.”
Venkaiah Naidu described Vijayawada as a city steeped in glorious history and rich traditions. He said the new capital region of Amaravati alongside Vijayawada and Guntur should emerge as a symbol of Andhra pride and development on the world map.
Tracing the ancient legacy, Venkaiah Naidu recalled how historical inscriptions referred to the city as “Bejawada,” how the Mogalrajapuram rock-cut caves reflected early architecture, and how Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang documented its Satavahana heritage. Vijayawada Utsav, he added, must not only celebrate the city’s present but also pass on its heritage to future generations while promoting Telugu language, art, and traditions.
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Shivnath said the event was not just a festival but a symbol of the city’s pride. He proposed that with the Utsav as a foundation, Vijayawada should move ahead in tourism, culture, spirituality, and economy and emerge as AP’s crown jewel.
Ministers Kollu Ravindra, Kandula Durgesh, Vangala Anita, Satyakumar Yadav and Kolusu Parthasarathy, MLAs Sujana Chowdary, Vasantha Krishnaprasad, Tangirala Soumya, Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, Gadde Rammohan Rao, Kolikapudi Srinivas, Kamineni Srinivas and Venigandla Ramu, British deputy high commissioner to AP and Telangana Gareth Wynn Owen, convener of the Society for Vibrant Vijayawada Muttavarapu Muralikrishna, and Swachh Andhra Corporation chairman Kommareddy Pattabhiram were among those present.