3-day Harikatha fest organised at Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music and Dance College

Vijayawada: A three-day Harikatha festival of Sappa Bharati was organised at Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music and Dance College here from Tuesday to Thursday.

It is good sign that the organisers are showing interest to promote the traditional art forms like Harikatha. 

Harikatha is an art form combined with storytelling, poetry, music, drama, dance, and philosophy. 

This is most popular in Andhra Pradesh and also in Karnataka. The story teller is called ‘Haridasa’ or Harikatha Bhagavatar.

Earlier, most of the Haridasu concentrated on mythological based stories. 

Later, it was switched to historical and now to contemporary issues. ‘Harikatha Pitamaha’ Adibhatla Narayana Dasu promoted this art form. 

Many disciples of Adibhatla Narayana Dasu have become more popular in this field.

Sappa Bharathi gave three different mythological Harikatha ganam namely Parvathi Kalyanam, Srinivasa Kalyanam and Bhakta Ambarisha. She captured the audience with her metallic and expressive voice.

This festival was inaugurated by Dr D Viziabhaskar, CEO, AP Creativity and Culture Commission. This was organised by Sri Sai Lakshmi Digitals with the help of Department of Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh. 

The Andhra Pradesh Government is also encouraging the commercial organisations in conducting the cultural events, which is a welcoming gesture.