Two-Day Telugu Mahotsavam Begins at Undavalli Caves
Festival Celebrates Telugu Language, Literature and Cultural Heritage With Music, Literature and Folk Arts
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2026-07-26 07:53 GMT
A two-day Telugu Mahotsavam, aimed at promoting the Telugu language and preserving its cultural heritage, began at the historic Undavalli Caves in Guntur district on Saturday under the aegis of the Andhra Pradesh State Creativity and Culture Society.
The festival opened with the “Suryodaya Suprabhatam” programme, during which students of the Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government College of Music and Dance welcomed the sunrise with Telugu devotional and literary compositions. The classical music recital was presented atop the ancient caves.
The inaugural session was attended by NTR district collector G. Lakshmisha, former Zilla Parishad chairperson Gadde Anuradha, APMSIDC chairman Chillapalli Srinivas, ghazal singer Ghazal Srinivas, NTR district DCP K.G.V. Saritha and Telugu Sahitya and Samskruti Academy chairman M. Wilson (Sharath Chandra), who lit the ceremonial lamp.
Addressing the gathering, Lakshmisha said preserving the Telugu language and its literary and cultural heritage is a collective responsibility. He said organising the festival at the historic Undavalli Caves would inspire younger generations to take pride in their mother tongue.
Gadde Anuradha said bringing Telugu literature, folk traditions and fine arts together on a single platform was a welcome initiative.
A literary session titled “Aame Maata – Akshara Baata” featured writers Bhavani Devi, Mandalapu Haimavathi, Tella Aruna, Vasudha Rani, Sushilamma and Simhadri Jyothirmayi, who discussed the evolution of women's writing in Telugu literature from Molla to Olga.
Poets and writers from across the state recited works on the Telugu language, the heritage of the Undavalli Caves and contemporary social issues during the “Chettu Needana Chirugaali Kavithva Gaanam” session. Andhra Pradesh State Creativity and Culture Society chairperson Podapati Tejaswini presented certificates of appreciation to the participants.
Retired All India Radio director Munjaluri Krishnakumari narrated Panchatantra and moral stories to children and encouraged them to develop storytelling skills.
A traditional “Tholu Bommalata” performance based on the “Sundarakanda” and the musical programme “Telugu Swarala Sangeeta Sambaram” featuring Telugu film songs, lyrical analysis and live performances, marked the opening day’s celebrations.