Penukonda festival off to a colourful start

Penukonda(Anantapur): At a time when the climate is surcharged with political tit-tats, the ‘Penukonda Festival’ has come in handy for people to experience a change in the climate by going down the memory lane of history and for a couple of days to relive the times of legendary emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya and enjoy bliss of colourful feast of cultural programmes which kick-started on Thursday here as part of the 2-day festival. 

The district administration and the department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs had slogged to give a new look to the historical town of Penukonda. The town is decorated with colourfully painted ancient heritage structures and buildings of Sri Krishnadevaraya era with its pristine beauty and grand old temples with their rich architectural heritage structures well decorated and illuminated buildings. The entire atmosphere and the way the town is dressed up with its antique cultural outlook reminiscence the times and life of the once glorious emperor Krishnadevaraya.

The Gagan Mahal, a gift of Krishnadevaraya, to his court dancer stands as an edifice of his love for the dancer. Hundreds of people, art and history lovers descended on to the historical town from Rayalaseema districts as well as from other parts of Karnataka as Vijayanagar Palace in Karnataka was the seat of the Vijayanagar kingdom which extended to the entire Rayalaseema region.

Hundreds have participated in the colourful ‘Shobha Yatra’ which started at Gagan Mahal and ended at junior college in Penukonda.  As visitors descend into the town by cars, buses and even two-wheelers, they are greeted by scores of food courts and platforms of scintillating cultural performances.

For hundreds of government and private school students, the festival offered an enjoyment bonanja with hundreds of children hailing mostly from government residential schools in Penukonda, Gorantla, Hindupur and Garladinne mandal participating in various cultural programmes and feasting on dance performances and acting in historical playlets and dramas.

For children, it was a week-long activity of preparation and participation which took them to cloud nine. The two-day festival provided them joy and gladness. It is a cultural and tourist journey for children at government expense.

The two separate platforms set up in the town gave scope for hosting ample programmes including cultural events like Kuchipudi jugalbandi, Hanuman Chalisa dance, rock fusion western band, traditional folk dance, Ghallu Ghallu dance, Lambadi dance, Kolatam, classical and gokula dance etc.

Plays and dramas on Jhansi Lakshmibai, Krishnadevaraya, Chakka Bhajana and Annamayya Kirtanas and Pyramid dance etc were some of the dances and feats that made audiences fly to cloud nine.

The entire district administration and the police security personnel played a key role in the hassle-free organising of the festival on the inaugural day. The festival will conclude on Friday. District collector Veera Pandian, joint collector Dilly Rao, district officials and SP GVG Ashok Kumar and his team made a mark on the festival arrangements.