Ugadi celebrated with pomp, gaiety

Eluru: People across the entire West Godavari district celebrated Ugadi, the Telugu New Year with festive fervour on Friday. In Eluru, the Ugadi celebrations were conducted at the YMHA hall under the aegis of the District Cultural Council. Lighting the lamp, the Women and Child Welfare Minister Peethala Sujatha inaugurated the celebrations and garlanded the statue of Telugu Talli here. While conducting the Panchanga Sravanam, Gorthi Subrahmanya Sastri said that farmers would benefit with proper rainfall this year. Through his rituals, he has also foreseen the development of the state as a whole.
The Minister also expressed her hope for overall development of the State in this New Year and urged people to come forward and join hands for that purpose.
Expressing happiness over the future of the farmers foreseen through Panchanga Sravanam, the Minister said that the State government gives highest priority to the culture and tradition of Telugu people. Eluru MP Maganti Venkateswara Rao (Babu), Eluru MLA BadetiKota Ramarao (Bujji), District Collector K Bhaskar greeted the residents of this district. Veda pundits Yanandra Raviprakash Sharma, Joshyula Lakshmana Sastr, Tumuluri Viswanadha Sastr and Y Srinadha Sharma conducted veda pathanam in this auspicious moment. Later the trio conferred Ugadi awards to the outstanding artistes and writers with a shawl, memento and a cash prize of Rs 10,116.
Amaravathi Vaibhavam, a dance metaphor performed by the Gandikota Rajesh team added fervour to the celebrations. Paravathi Ramachandran, noted dancer and her group performed the Ugad Swagatam dance. A Kavi Sammelanam was also held later. Eluru RDO N Tej Bharath, Municipal Commissioner Y Sai Srikanth and others participated in the programme.
In Narsapuram town, MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu participated as chief guest in the Ugadi celebrations, organised at the Narsapuram NGO Association office. He aspired for overall benefits of the Telugu people this year. Here the Panchanga Sravanam was performed by Chilakamarthi Subrahmanya Sastry and Angara Srinivasulu. The MLA also felicitated poets, avadhana pundits and veda pundits.
AMC Chairman Rayudu Sriramulu, Tahsildar G Suryanarayana Reddy, ZPTC member Balam Prathap, Government Hospital Committee Chairman Bandaru Patel Rajanaidu and others also participated.
Later, Madhava Naidu inaugurated the Cultural Centre Office Library constructed by Alluri Satyanarayana Raju Memorial Cultural Association along with Zinnuru Nanna garu. Naidu also participated in the Ugadi celebrations here, where Sadguru zinnuru Nanngaru delivered his speech. Association Vice President Alluri Murthy Raju, Secretary Alluri Jitendra Nath, Treasurer Babusri and others were also present.