Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hotels wooing Vizagites with beach parties

January 13, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economyadmin

Visakhapatanam :

What can be more fun for Vizagites than ushering in the New Year on the beach to the sway of salsa beats in true Latin American style? With the city bouncing back to normalcy after the prolonged Samaikyandhra agitation, denizens are willing to give troubling division thoughts a rest and are gearing up to welcome 2014 with full gusto and city hotels are going all out to woo revellers with an entertaining mix of dance, music and food under the stars on the beaches.

This is proving to be a big hit with several Vizagites, especially the family crowd, who have preferred to stay put in the city during the New Year instead of venturing out of station as winter holidays have been curtailed by many educational institutions to make up for lost classes during the Samaikyandhra agitation.

While Park Hotel is organizing its ‘Sin City’ bash, featuring South American dancers, DJ and gourmet delights, on the beach, Palm Beach Hotel is organizing open air sea deck events. “We have decided to transform the beach into a dance floor this year. There will be salsa, pole dance apart from Bollywood dancer Hema Panchali’s troupe that will keep the audience enthralled,” said Park Hotel’s PR department official Vindhya Singh, pointing out that the response was better than last year.

In fact so good is the demand for New Year bashes that Palm Beach Hotel claims that most of its event packages are almost sold out. The hotel’s spokesperson Ravi Shankar said, “We have DJ Suman and a live band playing on the sea deck. Despite the steep price tags of up to Rs 3500 per head, the bookings have been selling like hot cakes.” While the Novotel Varun Beach is not really taking its patrons to the beach, it is making sure that they get a feel of being on the beach by organizing a `Dance by the Bay’ do at the Pool Deck replete with DJ, live singers and international artistes apart from ‘Fiesta Mexicana’ fest that will feature Russian dancers and a Bollywood troupe. And despite the steep pricing ranging from Rs 5,500-8,500 per couple enthusiastic Vizagites are lapping it up, claimed Varun Mehrotra, director (sales and marketing), Novotel Hotel.

At Waves, the Four Points by Sheraton night club, a DJ night will be the focal point of New Year’s eve, while at Sea Green, a fashion show along with DJ performances is on the menu. And even the strict deadline of 1 am laid down by the police for all public events has not deterred the organisers or the revelers.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam> Troupe / by Sulogna Mehta, TNN / December 31st, 2013

Facelift to monuments of neglect

January 12, 2014About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

Gandhi Memorial Stupa atop Gandhi Hill in Vijayawada. / Photo: V. Raju / The Hindu

Tourism authorities equipped with funds to upgrade local properties

After a prolonged lull in activity, the AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is finally all set to switch to action mode in Vijayawada region.

Most part of the year that just passed by was about ‘all-promises-no-implementation’. But the tourism authorities are now equipped with funds to upgrade, augment and enhance local properties awaiting their attention.

The Tourism Corporation has its hands full with works related to development of scenic spots like the Gandhi Hill, the picturesque Bhavani Island on River Krishna and the historic Kondapalli Fort near Vijayawada.

Gandhi Hill

Gandhi Hill, the first Gandhi memorial with seven stupas in the country was constructed on this hill at a height of 500 ft. The project was unveiled by the then President of India Zakir Hussain on October 6 in 1968. Regardless of its great significance that reflects in the Gandhi Memorial library and a sound and light show on Mahatma Gandhi’s life the place has, besides a planetarium and a toy train, the structure is reduced to a monument of neglect over the years.

To reclaim its glory, the APTDC plans to spend funds to the tune of Rs. 3 crore. The works it proposes to take up include modernisation of the toy train which is currently in a dilapidated state, re-laying of the road that goes up the hill, renovation of the library and the museum and add new features besides illuminating the place.

“We will soon call tenders for taking up works worth Rs. 75 lakhs at Kondapalli Fort. The walls that have collapsed will be reconstructed and other demolished structured will be restored,” says Babu Prakash, Executive Engineer of the engineering wing of APTDC. The fort is located on the west of the Kondapalli village and was built by Prolaya Vema Reddy of Kondaveedu in the 14 century. What was initially a pleasure place and a business centre later served as a military fortification and the British placed a strong garrison here.

At Bhavani Island, the long-pending amphitheatre works have been completed at a cost of Rs. 56 lakh while the jetty is being repaired at a cost of Rs. 14 lakh.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – January 12th, 2014

Promoting and preserving Telugu literature for 60 years

January 10, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Arasam and Visalandhra Publishing House members presenting ‘Visala Sahiti Puraskaram’ to noted writer Olga at Visalandhra Publishing House diamond jubilee celebrations in Guntur on Friday. / Photo: T.Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu

Visalandhra Publishing House is celebrating its diamond jubilee

Visalandhra Publishing House (VPH), born from left-oriented movement and ideologies, is celebrating its diamond jubilee in Guntur. The book house, formed in 1953, has completed 60 years.

Abyudaya Rachayitala Sangam, which completed 70 years and contributed several stories, novels and writings to VPH, is celebrating ‘Arasam Edupadula Udyama Prastanam’, in association with VPH, at Sri Venkateswara Vignana Mandiram in the city on December 27 and 28.

Child marriages

VPH and Arasam, in association with Vattikonda Visalakshi Cultural Trust, presented ‘Visala Sahiti Puraskaram’ to noted writer, Olga. Speaking on the occasion, she said Akkiraju Umakantham of Guntur district scripted a novel ‘Balya Vivaham’ 100 years ago, but more than 50 per cent child marriages were being performed in the State.

Sahitya Academy Awardee Kethu Viswanatha Reddy, Visalandhra Publishing House executive editor N. Madhukar, Arasam State president Penugonda Lakshminarayana, general secretary Velpula Narayana, writers and poets inaugurated a book ‘Arasam Edupadula Udyama Prastanam’, published by Visalandhra Publishing House, on the occasion.

3,000 publications

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Madhukar said the book house printed more than 3,000 publications in the last six decades.

The theme of VPH is to collect, promote and preserve Telugu literature and explain the youth about the great writers across the world their writings, translated literatures and the philosophies and cultures of different countries.

“Visalandhra Prachuranalayam was publishing books in all the States in India in different languages. We published about 70 new prints and 300 reprints this year, and VPH is planning to publish more books on political and progressive literature, left theoretical writings, science and technology, history, culture and the experiences of eminent persons,” said Madhukar. Prof. Viswanatha Reddy said that the first conference of Arasam, was held in Tenali in Guntur district, and the bond between Arasam and VPH was great. The two-day meeting will discuss the conferences, extracts, essays and ideologies of Arasam in the last seven decades.

Play performed

Arasam district president Kanaparthi Swarnalatha, and Vattikonda Visalakshi Cultural Trust president Papineni Shivashankar were present. Later, a play ‘Kotha Nayakudu’ was performed on the occasion.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Guntur – December 28th, 2013

Kalamkari union gets licence to procure black jaggery

January 9, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, Alladmin

Members of Kalamkari Artisans’ Union, Pedana, receiving permanent trade licence to procure and transport black jaggery, from Krishna district Collector M. Raghunandan Rao in Machilipatnam. / Photo: T. Appala Naidu / The Hindu

The Hindu reported the woes of the Kalamkari artisans due to lack of the jaggery

Krishna district Collector M. Raghunandan Rao on Monday handed over the permanent trade licence, issued by Commercial Tax department, for procurement, transport and sale of black jaggery, to the Kalamkari Artisans’ Union members at the Collectorate here.

The registered licence number was VJ2/0173/7851 (as per the AP Value Added Tax Act 2005) was officially sanctioned on December 17, based on the recommendations of the Excise Superintendent K. Pradeep Rao.

Amicable solution

In response to the woes of the Kalamkari industry due to scarcity of black jaggery, both the district Collector and Excise official found an amicable solution to encourage the rural industry. The Hindu reportet the woes of the Kalamkari artisans and the officials reacted positively to that. Excise Superintendent K. Pradeep Rao told The Hindu that the Kalamkari union deserved the licence as it was found to be of great necessity for supply of black jaggery. “There is no hesitation to act against the members of the KAU if violation of the licence in any manner is found. We will keep vigil on illegal transportation of jaggery, even within the limits of the Kalamkari industry,” he added.

KAU president Y.V. Malleswara Rao and other members thanked the authorities concerned.

The artisans are now being allowed to procure and transport the black jaggery from Chittoor and Anakapalle in Visakhapatnam district.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Machilipatnam – December 31st, 2013

RTC Tours to Vaishnavite Temples

January 9, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC)-Guntur region, has announced a special tour package to Vaishnavite temples including Mangalagiri, Simhachalam, Annavaram and Dwaraka Tirumala in this month of Dhanurmasam.

APSRTC regional manager PV Rama Rao said that the buses will be operated from Guntur and Tenali bus stations Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm.

They will return to the starting points at 8 pm two days later.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service – Guntur / January 03rd, 2014

Thousands throng churches across Hyderabad for midnight mass

January 9, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Hyderabad :

The grandeur of the churches in the city was at its brightest best on Tuesday night as sparkling lights and stars drew thousands to the midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

The faithful braved the cold to attend the mass in several famous churches, including St Mary’s Church and Church of St John The Baptist, Secunderabad, and St Joseph’s Cathedral, Gunfoundry. At many churches, the service also took place on Wednesday morning and noon.

At St Mary’s Church, the archbishop of Hyderabad, Thumma Bala, read out special verses from the Bible as part of the liturgy and urged people to follow a life of love and devotion to Jesus Christ . Despite the service being held in the open air, people continued to pour in to listen to the sermon, which went on till well past midnight.

Prior to the mass, churches also organized nativity plays, depicting the history of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ.

The usual celebrations and rituals aside, some parishes ensured that the less privileged were not excluded from the festivities. “We have been having outreach programs for the poor relating to health and education. We also organized free meals for the homeless in various parts of the city. It is the season of joy and there is no greater joy than that of giving,” said Rev Bhaskar Rao, Rock Church, Masab Tank.

Meanwhile, for many revelers, despite the array of offers available at hotels and restaurants, Christmas was essentially about spending time with near and dear ones. “Christmas has traditionally been about being at home with family and friends. After attending morning mass, I spent the entire day with my extended family and will attend a Christmas dance in the evening,” said Agnelo Luqua, 25.

For traditional families, home cooked food is as integral to the celebrations as decorating the Christmas tree and singing carols. Roast chicken or turkey, biryani, pulav, mutton curry and desserts comprise the typical elaborate Christmas lunch or dinner.

“Good food is obviously very important to the celebrations. The best part is the feeling of togetherness that comes while cooking and eating together, which is an important part of the Christmas spirit,” said Sainikpuri resident, Arundhati Ann.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad> Christmas Eve / TNN / December 26th, 2013

15-day-long NATA Seva Days to Conclude Tomorrow

January 6, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinionadmin

North America Telugu Association president Sanjeeva T Reddy (left), secretary Ramasurya Reddy and chairman-PR Mahesh Bigala (right) preparing notes before addressing press in Hyderabad on Friday | NEERAJ MURALI

The 15-day-long Seva Days of North American Telugu Association (NATA) will culminate with cultural programmes, award of scholarships to students and presentation of lifetime achievement awards at Ravindra Bharati here on Sunday.

A business seminar will also be held in collaboration with Telugu Entrepreneurs Association (TEA).

Justice R Subash reddy of the High Court will present lifetime achievement award to Maxi Vision group founder Dr Kasu Prasad Reddy and NATA eexcellency award to filmmaker Sekhar Kammula. Assembly chief whip Gandra Venkatramana Reddy will be the guest of honour.

Scholarships to 117 Intermediate students of government colleges, five students from each district, will be presented by justice Dr Y Bhaskar Rao, Lokayukta, Karnataka. Each student will be given a scholarship of Rs 10,000.

Seva Days is an initiative of NATA whereby they lend services to people in the state. NATA president Sanjeeva T Reddy told reporters that the association had built water plants in Nalgonda, Nellore, Tirupati, Nizamabad and other districts, taken up six projects of clean and green graveyards in Nellore district and organised eye camps in five districts of the state.

“Through screening, optical wear is provided to children and we identified some more who need surgeries which will be performed in three months,” he said.

The association has spent more than `2 crore on its programmes. Its next convention in the USA in July next.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / December 28th, 2013

Spreading joy during Christmas

January 5, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sportsadmin

Former state athlete, Douglas Johnson, has been celebrating Christmas for the past eight years in the company of underprivileged children and their families.

Every year during Christmas, his modest two-bedroom home in Lalaguda, also called Little England of Secunderabad, buzzes with activity. There is food in abundance and gifts enveloped in colourful wrapping paper. While every family adorns their house with a glittering Christmas tree, Douglas invites underprivileged children to come and share the joy of decorating the tree. For the past eight years, the Johnson family has been playing host to these children and sharing Christmas with them.

Ask Douglas what prompted him to celebrate in such a way, and he says, “As a child, I never knew the joy of decorating a Christmas tree because we could never afford it. We were a family of eight and my father’s earnings were humble. In those days, a Christmas tree would cost around `100-`150, which was almost like a week’s meal for the family. My siblings and I would visit friends and relatives to see the Christmas tree. My eyes would pop up looking at it. It’s like you want it badly, but you know you cannot afford it. That’s when I decided to celebrate Christmas with children who cannot afford it.”

Every year, his house is thrown open to anyone who wants to celebrate Christmas. “This year, I had an early Christmas celebration. The numbers went up to around 450 people, so I had to celebrate it at the Sacred Heart Church. There was a small mass, children played some games and decorated the tree. Later, they indulged in an elaborate spread, cut a cake and went back with their gifts and goodies,” says Douglas, adding that this bash is held in the memory of his father, Philip Johnson.

A champion of state level relay race for ten years (1987-1997), Douglas has also represented Osmania University Athlete team at the nationals. Currently employed with the South Central Railway, Douglas saves a decent sum from his salary every month for this event and the rest is contributed by his siblings, who are residing abroad.

According to Douglas, Christmas is all about putting a smile on everyone’s face. “For those who can afford it, Christmas is a festival of joy, but for the ones who can’t, it’s a stark reality of their financial condition. There is no better joy than seeing a smile on a child’s face — that, to me, is the real spirit of Christmas,” he says.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Life & Style> People> Christmas Tree / by Dipika Pillay, TNN / December 24th, 2013

Visakhapatnam’s nature lovers turn guardian angels of tree

January 2, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Visakhapatnam :

Having lost trust in the intentions and actions of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), environment-conscious citizens and NGOs have decided to maintain a strict daily vigil on the 125-year-old heritage banyan tree at Railway Station Road to prevent it from falling prey to the civic body’s axe.

After the photograph of the tree bearing axe marks was published in TOI on Sunday, irked green lovers not only paid the heritage banyan tree a visit the same day but also spoke to GVMC workers present at the site. Noted environment and heritage activist from the city, Sohan Hatangadi, who is a member of Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) also sent a scathing email in this regard to the GVMC chief on Sunday, which still hasn’t received any response.

Vivek Rathod, an active member of Meecons (Mother Earth Environment Consciousness Society), said, “On Sunday, we visited the tree and the GVMC staff in charge of constructing the wall and drainage said that the drainage construction will take place from another side to prevent any further damage to the tree. However, we will be keeping an eye on their future activities around the tree and will also meet the authorities at the earliest. We have decided to take turns to visit the tree each day and keep a strict watch so that no further harm is done to the tree.”

With the GVMC demolishing the century-old Kurupam market structure overnight, citizens are apprehensive that the heritage tree could also meet the same fate. Already, around 40 full-grown trees on the railway station road have been chopped off recently for road widening much to the chagrin of denizens.

Representatives of environmental NGOs are also planning to meet GVMC authorities to ensure that the heritage tree is not harmed any more. The tree not only bore axe marks but also a branch was chopped off for facilitating drainage in the area despite assurances given by GVMC that it would not touch the tree.

Meanwhile, in his letter to the GVMC commissioner M V Satyanarayana, Sohan wrote, “Now that the railway area has been acquired by GVMC, it has exposed the tree and left it to the mercy of the corporation’s axe. The GVMC has failed miserably in greening our city and now it appears to be taking an active part in destroying what little greenery we have. Your engineers are giving only a speculative, uninformed and unconvincing response when asked how this could happen.”

“We are frequently seeing news reports of old trees being axed during road widening. Some of these old trees are more than 100 years old and are not only of heritage significance, but also nurture thousands of birds and small animals that are a part of our ecosystem. Furthermore, large trees such as these serve as a CO2 sink removing almost 50 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere in a year,” the letter said.

However, till Tuesday, Sohan said he had not received any intimation from the GVMC. “After December 27, we, on behalf of Intach, are planning to meet the GVMC commissioner regarding the tree as well as establishing a heritage conservation committee,” he said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam> Cultural Heritage / TNN / December 25th, 2013

Bike rally to mark Neelam centenary

January 1, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Sportsadmin

Anantapur:

A motorbike rally was organized at the Nehru Yuva Kendram here, on Friday, to mark the concluding centenary celebrations of the former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.

The bike rally was to remember the services of the first Chief Minister, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, who made sincere efforts to improve irrigation facilities from Tungabhadra reservoir during his tenure.
He was the initiator of High Level Main Canal from Tungabhadra reservoir.

As part of the concluding function of the centenary celebrations of the former President, who was native of Illur village, in Anantapur district, the district authorities have organized the motorbike rally towards the Tungabhadra reservoir, about 150 kms away from here and back.

Also, President Pranab Mikherjee would visit the mahasamadhi, of Sri Satya Saibaba at Prasanthinilyam, during his visit to the district. Initially, the President was not scheduled to visit the mahasamadhi and was to return on a special aircraft to Prasanthinilayam airport.

The official sources said, President Pranab Mukherjee would attend the concluding function of the centenary celebrations of former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.

Additional forces are being posted at Puttaparthi and Anantapur on the occasion of the President’s visit. The President would arrive at around 12.30 pm on December 23, at Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy stadium.

Later the Governor, ESL Narasimhan, would release the book on Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and present the first copy to the President.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / December 21st, 2013

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