‘Telugu Mahotsavam’ to be annual event, says Minister Kandula Durgesh

Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh on Sunday announced that the State Government will organise ‘Telugu Mahotsavam’ annually across Andhra Pradesh to promote the Telugu language and its rich cultural heritage. He directed officials to conduct the festival in all regions of the State so that Telugu’s literary and cultural legacy reaches future generations.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh felicitates a participant during the valedictory ceremony of the two-day Telugu Mahotsavam cultural festival at the Undavalli Caves in Guntur district on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
G. N. Rao

The Minister was addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day Telugu Mahotsavam, organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Creative and Cultural Society at the historic Undavalli Caves in Guntur district where he was welcomed with traditional folk performances. Later he felicitated poets who have contributed to the Telugu literature and social media influencers promoting the language in the digital space.

Mr. Durgesh said that the coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan was committed to protecting the Telugu language and reviving the State’s cultural heritage. “While English remains important in today’s world, the mother tongue must never be neglected,” he said and noted that Telugu has been made compulsory at the primary level, stressing that education in the mother tongue enhances creativity, critical thinking and the overall development of children.

The Minister proposed preparing a comprehensive documentation tracing the historical evolution of Telugu as a classical language and assured full government support for preserving Telugu literature and manuscripts. He also stressed the need to revive traditional art forms such as Tholu Bommalata, Harikatha, Burrakatha and Padya Natakam and announced that the prestigious Nandi Natakotsavams would soon be organised on a grand scale.

Mr. Durgesh added the government had already instituted several literary and cultural honours, including the Ugadi Kala Ratna Awards, Kandukuri Awards, Telugu Language Awards, Gurram Jashuva Awards and Boyi Bheemanna Awards. He also announced that the birth centenary celebrations of Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao will be held in Vijayawada on August 4, while Telugu Language Day and the Telugu Awards ceremony will be organised on August 29, marking the birth anniversary of Gidugu Ramamurthy Pantulu.

In the event, the Minister personally wrote the Telugu word “Vishwaksenudu,” observed pottery and Telugu calligraphy demonstrations, watched the traditional leather puppet theatre and appreciated a Class II student who recited Bhagavad Gita verses. He also unveiled an artwork by the Language and Culture Department Director Regulla Mallikarjuna Rao and released Kavitha Kusumalu, a poetry collection by Simhadri Vani.

Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad called upon people to dedicate themselves to preserving Telugu, while AP State Creative and Cultural Society chairperson Tejaswi Podapati said that the festival aimed to ensure that the Telugu language is passed on to future generations by encouraging its everyday use among children and youth. Official Language Commission chairman Trivikram Rao and Director Regulla Mallikarjuna Rao lauded the government’s efforts to strengthen Telugu language and culture. The celebrations concluded with renowned singer Shobha Raju presenting Annamacharya compositions celebrating the beauty and richness of Telugu.