State gets set for week-long extravaganza

TELANGANA FORMATION DAY

Festivities to begin from June 1 midnight, major edifices to be illuminated

Police beef up security

Parade Grounds will be the venue for Telangana State Formation Day celebrations, scheduled to start from 9.30 AM on June 2. Director General of Police Anurag Sharma took a stock of the preparations and security measures at the ground along with other senior officials. City Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy said more than 3,000 police personnel will be deployed around the Parade Ground for successful conduct of the events. "Anti-sabotage teams have also been deployed that will be part of the security arrangements," he said.

Hyderabad: Telangana is all set to celebrate its formation day on June 2 with week-long festivities highlighting the rich culture of the State and its struggle for separate statehood. Hyderabad and the State’s other nine districts are geared up to celebrate the formation day amid fanfare. Telangana had come into existence as India’s 29th State on June 2 last year after it was carved out of Andhra Pradesh.

As Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government is also completing one year in office on the same day, it has drawn elaborate plans to ensure celebrations on a grand scale and released Rs 20 crore for the purpose. The festivities will begin on June 1 midnight with fireworks at 12 selected places in Hyderabad.

Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, B P Acharya said 3D illuminating mapping had been done at three places in Hyderabad - Secunderabad Clock Tower, Buddha statue in Hussainsagar and Kacheguda Railway Station.

The State secretariat, Assembly building, Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister's official residence, government buildings and historic monuments will be illuminated. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on June 2 will launch the celebrations by paying tributes to martyrs of Telangana at Gun Park near the Assembly building.

He will unfurl the national flag and take salute of a colourful parade at the main official function to be held at Parade Grounds. A march past, cultural programme and presentation of tableaux highlighting the culture and history of Telangana will be part of the main celebrations.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, will present State awards to various personalities who excelled in different walks of life. The government is holding events covering all fields from literature to music.

These include special programmes involving local poets and artists, literary events, film shows, photograph exhibitions and various workshops covering in Telangana culture, tradition and heritage. The cultural programmes will also include musical shows, events on Telangana cinema, ballet dance by renowned performers, folk art performances, folk songs and comedy shows.

Films of noted film-makers from Telangana like Shyam Benegal and B Narsing Rao will be screened at Lalita Kala Toranam. “The story of Telangana has been a very symbolic and heroic one, with its first anniversary, we are all geared up for this seven-day carnival. We will ensure that people go back with some fun-filled and unforgettable memories of this jubilant State,” said Acharya.

Artistes of Telangana’s 'Sanskrutika Sarathi' will embark on a ‘Telangana Sanskrutika Jaitrayatra’, covering two districts a day. The yatra will begin at Necklace Road in Hyderabad on June 2 and return to Tank Bund in Hyderabad on June 7 for the valedictory program, in which more than 5,000 artistes will participate.

The daily programmes will highlight the cultural identity of communities like Sikhs, Gujaratis and Maharashtrians. Noted ghazal singer Ghulam Ali will perform at the Charminar on June 5. The Telangana Golf Association will host the first inter-State golf championship at Hyderabad Golf Association from June 2 to 5. The authorities have also planned water sports Regatta. A Telangana food festival ‘Dawat-e-Hyderabad’ would be organised at People's Plaza here.