Rajamahendravaram, March 28, 2022: Chief Guest Sri Biswabhusan Harichandan, Hon’ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh; inaugurated the two-day National Cultural Festival of India, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2022, hosted by the, Government of India; at Arts College Grounds, Rajamahendravaram. The Mahotsav hosted on March 26th and 27th was graced by Guests of Honor Shri G. Kishan Reddy; Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism, Culture & Development of North Eastern Region of India, Government of India; Sri M. Srinivasa Rao, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism and Culture, AP; Sri Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopalakrishna, Hon’ble Minister for B.C. Welfare, AP; Sri Margani Bharat, Hon’ble MP, Rajamahendravaram; Sri M. Mohan Babu, Cine Actor and Former MP; Smt. Jayaprada, Cine Actress and Former MP and Smt. Adi Reddy Bhavani, Hon’ble MLA, Rajamahendravaram City.
HE Sri Biswabhusan Harichandan, speaking on the occasion said, as you all are aware Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. There are several Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs being hosted across the country and this is one of them. We need to rekindle the spirit of freedom struggle and for that the Prime Minister has installed the hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and a huge statue will be installed in India Gate. You must be remembering that during the freedom struggle, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had said Dilli Chalo. In one of my articles I said Netaji has reached India Gate, which means he reached Dilli. He is the Prime Minister who paid a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Netaji asked the people of the country during the freedom fight, ‘give me blood I will give freedom’, there was turmoil all over the country from Himalaya to Kanya Kumari, people came on to the streets and Netaji started attacking the Britishers from outside the country. Netaji had highest respect for Mahatma Gandhiji, but he felt through non-voilent methods we can’t drive away the Britishers, and that’s the only difference. He went to Chicago from there to Japan, Germany and formed a provisional government of free India in exile, which was recognized by nine countries including Germany, Japan and others. In the 1942 Quit India Movement, Gandhiji asked the people to come to the streets and ask Britishers to quit India, many people thought it was not possible to ask such a great power to quit India, but when lakhs of people joined Mahatma Gandhi and asked the Britishers to quit India, tremors were felt in the country. Contributions of Sabarmati Ashram, Farmers agitation gave a great push to the freedom struggle. Through Sepoy mutiny and Paika Bidroha, we fought the Britishers, our sepoys who raised the guns against the Britishers in 1857 are being honoured. I am extremely joyed today seeing this huge congregation and especially with the coming together of artists of art, crafts and culture. Happy that we are celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with honour and joy and also proud of the fact that our forefathers fought against the Britishers. India is the greatest democracy of the world now and going ahead. It has become another superpower and we being the citizens of this country we are all proud and should be prepared to make lots of sacrifices for this country.
The Mahotsav had an auspicious beginning with a discourse on Bhagvad Gita by Sri Gangadhar Sastry, on the first day. Later a classical Odissi dance performance by Aloka Kanungo enthralled the audience and popular singers Sri S.P. Charan and Smt. U. Sunita, regaled the gathering with some eternal melodies from the legends of Indian Cinema, Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Sri Ghantasala, Sri S.P. Balasubramanyam and Sri Sirivennela Sitaram Sastry.
The second day’s event was graced by Chief Guest and Hon’ble Minister of State for Culture & External Affairs, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi. The day had Taal Vadya kacheri, a musical treat by P. Jaya Bhaskar followed by a musical tribute paid to the legends of Indian Cinema Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Sri Ghantasala, Sri S.P. Balasubramanyam; Sri Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry by popular singers Smt. S.P. Shailaja and Sri Vandemataram Srinivas.
On both the days, over 540 Zonal folk artists and 280 folk artists from Andhra Pradesh, presented colorful cultural extravaganza of choreographed folk performances, making the Mahotsav cherishable for a lifetime. Spellbinding performances by drummers from all Zonal Cultural Centers on day one and choreographed folk martial arts by artists drawn from all parts of India on the second day, were the hallmark of the event.
