A rich menu to showcase the composite mix of Telangana culture, particularly the Ganga Jamuna tahzeeb of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, is on the cards for the official celebrations in Hyderabad from June 2 to 7. The celebrations will kick start with a mega event at the Parade Grounds on June 2 and culminate with an exhilarating cultural carnival on Tank Bund on June 7.
The concluding function hopefully will erase any bitter memories of the battlefront on Tank Bund, when the ‘Million March’ in support of separate Telangana turned violent in March 2011.
Between June 2 and 7 to mark a truly festive mood in the State, one cultural activity or the other would be staged at 25 different venues in the city. These include daily programmes highlighting the cultural identity of communities like Sikhs, Gujaratis, Marwadis and Maharashtrians, to name some.
Victory lapAbout 550 artistes of Telangana Samskritika Saradhi, the cultural troupe of the government, will undertake a ‘victory lap’ in the name of Samskritika Jaitra Yatra in all districts. All the government offices and heritage structures will be illuminated.
Among important personalities invited by the government include the famous ghazal singer of Pakistan, Ghulam Ali, who will perform at Charminar on June 5. Another noted Hindustani classical vocalist from Pakistan is Ustad Raza Ali Khan.
A Telangana food festival and ‘Dawat-e-Hyderabad’ would be organised at People’s Plaza. Films of noted film makers from Telangana like Sham Benegal and S. Narsing Rao will be screened at Lalita Kala Toranam. About 20 tableaux will display the richness of Telangana at the inaugural celebration at Parade Ground.
Director of Language and Culture Mamidi Hari Krishna said the celebrations will reflect the blend of folk arts, Urdu culture, classical art and literary activity of Telangana.
Cash awardsAbout Rs. 10 crore will be given away as cash awards to literary exponents and participants in separate Telangana movement at mandal, municipality, district and State levels.
