Ugadi Panchanga Sravanam, Silver Chariot Festival Held with Fervour at Indrakeeladri
Devotees in large numbers attended the programme and listened attentively. Panchangams were distributed free of cost, followed by Ugadi pachadi and prasadam.
Vijayawada: Ugadi celebrations and the commencement of Vasantha Navaratri were marked with religious fervour and grandeur at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri on Thursday.
Marking Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram (2026–27), a grand Panchanga Sravanam was organised at the temple’s newly built puja mandapam. Asthana Siddhanti Brahmasri Challa Srinivasa Sharma presented the almanac, outlining predictions for all twelve zodiac signs, including income-expenditure patterns, honours and adversities, and planetary movements.
He also explained the likely impact of planetary alignments on rainfall, agriculture, the country’s economy, and public health.
Devotees in large numbers attended the programme and listened attentively. Panchangams were distributed free of cost, followed by Ugadi pachadi and prasadam.
Temple chairman Borrra Radhakrishna (Gandhi) and executive officer V.K. Seena Naik felicitated Siddhanti. Several trust board members and officials were present.
In the evening, the first day of Vasantha Navaratri began with the visually striking Vendi (Silver) Rathotsavam of Lord Malleswara Swamy with Goddess Parvathi. The procession commenced at 6pm from the Maha Mandapam after rituals performed by temple authorities.
The silver chariot, adorned with electric lights, moved through Ratham Centre, Brahmin Street, Jammidoddi and Kothapeta amid devotional chants, Vedic hymns and cultural performances by drum artists, Kolatam dancers and bhajan groups. Devotees thronged the route, offering harati and prayers.
Temple authorities said special floral rituals would be performed during the nine-day festival, praying for the prosperity and well-being of the people.
Jagan celebrates Ugadi at Tadepalli YSRC office
Vijayawada: Former chief minister and YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy participated in the grand Ugadi celebrations that the opposition party organised at its central office in Tadepalli on Thursday.
Jagan, accompanied by his wife Y.S. Bharathi, arrived at the YSRC office dressed in traditional attire to celebrate the advent of Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram. Vedic scholars offered the couple Poornakumbham upon their arrival.
Those present for the Ugadi celebrations included senior party leaders, key functionaries, former ministers, MLAs, MLCs and other representatives. A specially designed stage resembling a sacred temple added to the spiritual ambience of the occasion.
Noted scholar Pidaparthi Bhaskara Subrahmanya Sastry performed the rituals in accordance with the tradition, followed by Panchanga Sravanam. The ceremony concluded with Vedic scholars blessing Jagan and Bharathi and offering them the teertha prasadam.
The former CM conveyed his wishes to party leaders, cadre, and supporters across Andhra Pradesh, highlighting that people of both the Telugu-speaking states celebrate Ugadi in a grand manner. He underlined the importance of unity and collective progress on the auspicious occasion.
On the occasion, Jagan honoured the Vedic scholars, including Subrahmanya Sastry, in recognition of their contribution to the celebrations.
AP reviving Telugu cultural glory, says Durgesh
Vijayawada: Minister for culture, Kandula Durgesh, on Thursday said the state government is reviving the lost glory of Telugu arts and culture, and ushering in a new phase of ‘recognition’ for artists and writers.
Ugadi celebrations for the Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram were held at Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram. The inauguration was at the hands of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in the presence of ministers Durgesh, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and others.
Interpreting Parabhava, he said it signified defeat for injustice but Prabhava for a government committed to fairness and progress.
Highlighting governmental performance, Durgesh cited the job calendar with 10,000 posts and free bus travel for the disabled under ‘Divyang Shakti’.
Durgesh said the government was reversing the neglect of culture during the 2019–2024 YSRC rule, by restoring Ugadi and Kandukuri awards and recognising cultural traditions like Konaseema Prabala Teertham. Arts flourish with government support and honouring achievers inspires future generations, he said.
As many as 161 achievers were honoured with Ugadi and Kala Ratna awards. Durgesh extended them Ugadi greetings and thanked deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan for his support.
Tadepally Lokanadha Sarma Honoured with Kalaratna 2026 Award
Renowned Carnatic musician and academician Tadepally Lokanadha Sarma was honoured with the prestigious Kalaratna 2026 award by the state government during the Parabhava Ugadi celebrations. The chief minister presented the award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian classical music.
A distinguished figure in Carnatic music, Sarma was born in Tenali. He’s widely regarded as a “Sangita Bhageeratha” and has earned several titles including Gana Kala Nidhi, Sangita Sikhamani and Sangita Kala Sagara. Over the decades, he has received several honours such as the Tyagaraja Puraskara, Nadasri and Srividya Sangeeta Puraskaram.
Sarma studied at Venkateswara College of Music in Tirupati and became a disciple of the legendary Chittoor Subramania Pillai. He also served as an Armed Forces singer between 1969 and 1971 and later worked with the Song and Drama Division in Delhi.
In 1979, he was appointed director of Sangeetha Vadhyalaya. He went on to serve as regional director for handicrafts in south India.
Sarma played a key role in promoting and preserving Carnatic music through performances, teaching and research. Founder of the Suswara Trust, he nurtured young talent and contributed to archiving classical compositions. His lifelong dedication and spiritual approach to music have earned him wide respect among musicians and scholars.
