Avakai Festival to Bring Cinema, Culture, Literature to Vijayawada Riverfront

Vijayawada: The AP government has put in place all arrangements for the Avakai: Amaravati Festival of Cinema, Culture and Literature, a three-day cultural celebration for people from Thursday, January 8, to January 10 along the Punnami Ghat and Bhavani Island in Vijayawada The festival will be a celebration of not only avakai — the iconic pickle that symbolises Telugu tradition and taste, but it will also showcase the richness of Telugu cinema, literature and arts.The Avakai event has been conceived as an open, inclusive riverfront festival, bringing cinema, literature and the performing arts into public spaces. It will involve direct engagement between artists and audiences, while transforming the banks of River Krishna into a vibrant site of cultural exchange and creative dialogue.

The festival, envisioned by AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is being organised by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, KIA and Teamwork Arts. Programmes will be multidisciplinary spanning music, dance, theatre, poetry, storytelling, workshops and cultural conversations.

Beyond performances and conversations, Avakai offers immersive festival experiences, including interactive installations and curated culinary experiences. Audiences will have an opportunity to engage deeply with the region’s cultural and artistic heritage.

Though entry to the event is free, audiences have been asked to register online at www.avakaifestival.com.

Speaking about the event, tourism and culture minister Kandula Durgesh said the festival would be a major platform to promote tourism and highlight Andhra Pradesh’s cultural heritage on a national scale.

Tourism department managing director Amrapali Kata inspected the venue of the festival on Tuesday. She issued clear instructions to ensure seamless execution of the festival, including seating arrangements, visitor safety, traffic regulation, venue and crowd management, drinking water facilities and sanitation.During the three-day festival, heritage walks, ferry rides and food festivals showcasing traditional local cuisine will be added attractions.

Avakai Festival to Bring Cinema, Culture, Literature to Vijayawada Riverfront

Avakai: Amaravati Festival of Cinema, Culture and Literature to Transform Vijayawada’s Riverfront with a Landmark Cultural Celebration, 8th to 10th January 2026

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