Chennai: Sankranthi Saahitya Sangeetha Festival

Focus on the literary legacy of the Telugu language

• "It is the people's duty to preserve their language and culture"
• 40 students given certificates for completing course

CHENNAI: The flavour of Andhra Pradesh wafted throughout the hall at Music Academy on Saturday as the Telugu-speaking population of Chennai gathered to celebrate సంక్రాంతి సాహిత్య సంగీత మహోత్సవం (Sankranthi Saahitya Sangeetha Festival).

Hosted by the World Telugu Federation, the festival reflected the literary legacy and richness of Telugu language. Thirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam Board chairman B. Karunakara Reddy highlighted the need for rejuvenating the Telugu traditions and culture that were slowly dying out. He stressed on unity among people to promote the language.

C. Narayana Reddy, Telugu poet and Padmabhushan awardee, appreciated the WTF's contributions towards Telugu in Chennai for over a decade.

He also touched upon the తెలుగు సాంస్కృతిక నికేతనం (Telugu Samskrutika Niketanam), a heritage museum proposed in Visakapatnam jointly by the WTF and the Andhra Pradesh Government to depict the history of Telugu culture and its art forms.

Underlining the rich heritage of Telugu art forms and literature, he said it was the people's duty to preserve their language and culture.

WTF president V.L. Indira Dutt briefed the audience about the organisation's activities. D. Vanaja Vaikuntam Nakash, a Cherial scroll painter, was awarded with the Yarlagadda Prabhavathi Sambhuprasad Puraskar to encourage artisans involved in traditional craftwork. Cherial scroll painting is a traditional craft from Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, that has folk paintings done on cloth.

About 40 students who completed the free Telugu course offered by WTF were given certificates.

Former secretary general BSR Krishna, Poet Gudapati Srinivasa Rao and WTF secretary general S. Jayasree Rao also participated.

Courtesy: The Hindu