Vijayawada: Nagayalanka, part of Diviseema region of Krishna district, is getting ready for dragon boat racing competition, the first of its kind in south India.
The tourism department and Swaccha Nagayalanka, a private organisation, have been jointly organising the traditional boat festival for the past four years at the Sri Rampada Kshetram Pushkar Ghat on river Krishna.
This year, they have decided to introduce dragon boat racing as an added attraction. The regional authorities have also speeded up arrangements as they expect over one lakh people to witness the boat festival.
As many as 20 teams from East and West Godavari, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts will participate in the dragon boat competitions while 36 teams will be part of the traditional Kola boat competitions.
The women’s competitions will be the highlight in this mega event, with as many as eight teams having already registered their names.
Also, students of some colleges are being trained by the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh to participate in the competitions.
The event would start from January 12, while the traditional boats (Kola Padava) competition would be held on January 13 from morning till evening. The dragon boat competitions will start on January 14 and continue till 3 pm.
The finals will also be on January 14 for both the competitions from 3 pm onwards.
The authorities have arranged accommodation for visitors and participants at Nvyalanka Island, near Sri Rampadakshetram
Also, competitions in Rangoli(Muggu) competitions, musical chairs, pass the ball, lemon and spoon for women visitors will be held on January 13 and Bhogi fire, exhibition of dolls (Bommala Koluvu), Bhogipallu for kids will be conducted on January 14.
Speaking to this newspaper, AP tourism executive director, R. Mallikarjuna Rao said “We are arranging accommodation all the visitors. The event will be 78 hours of nonstop fun with cultural activities and music to entertain the tourists along with Diviseema special food fest to tickle the taste buds of the visitors at Navyalanka.”
AP Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad said, “To develop Diviseema as a tourism hub, we introduced the boat competitions in 2015. People from Kerala also agreed that the backwaters is perfect for water sports at Nagyalanka. Hence, the government established a water sports academy to train youth in water sports here.”
