Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Tourism awards presented

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All

On the culmination of World Tourism Week celebrations on Thursday, the department of tourism presented awards of excellence in various segments of travel and tourism industry in the state.

Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar gave away the awards in various categories at a function held at Ravindra Bharathi here on Thursday.

The Golconda Resort and Spa won the best theme-based resort award whereas Jewel of Nizam at The Golkonda won the best restaurant in the state award.

The Park Hyatt, Hyderabad and Hotel Daspalla were awarded the best classified hotels in 5-tar and 4-star categories. Dr YSR National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management was adjudged the best tourism educational institution. Ajay Kant Gir for his 1952 Chevrolet Style Line Deluxe, Bharat Reddy for his 1943 Willy’s and Javedd for 1956 Bullet 750 won the awards in Best Vintage Car, Jeep and Motor cycle categories respectively.

“From next year I foresee participation and healthy competition between public sector hotels too with private sector,” said the toursim minister.

Special chief secretary (tourism) Chandana Khan, director of tourism Kantilal Dante, tourism advisor G Kishan Rao, director of archeology P Gayatri, special officer of Shilparamam GN Rao, director of the department of Culture Kavita Prasad Raju and director of NITHM Narayana Reddy were present.

The department of tourism, during the week-long celebrations, conducted programmes like food festivel, release of books and musical programmes, Hyderabad Heritage Run, film screening, vintage car rally and interactive session with stakeholders of tourism sector and inauguration of a sculpture park.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Southern News> Hyderabad / The New Indian Express, Express News Service / September 28th, 2012

 

City’s floral connection with Africa faces threat

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Hyderabad does not just boast of famous localities, African Cavalry (AC) Guards and Habsiguda (named after Abyssinia or Ethiopia), but also its rich biodiversity thanks to its “African connection”.
The Nizams had employed soldiers and servants from Africa and some of them had brought “flora mementos” with them to Hyderabad. The best-known flora or tree memento is the baobab tree, native of Madagascar. Popularly known as the elephant tree or Haati ka jhar, the baobab is now an endangered species in Andhra Pradesh. Outside Hyderabad, the tree is revered as “kalpavriksha” in parts of the State.

Two of these kalpavriksha trees were felled during the lane widening of the Vijayawada-Hyderabad National Highway and laying of the Outer Ring Road in Hyderabad. Now only four baobab trees remain in the State, one of them in the Golconda Fort. Baobab is scientifically called Adansonia digitata and many people in Andhra Pradesh believe it has magical or mystical powers. These trees are more than 150 years old.

Another African tree quite popular for its lovely reddish-orange flowers is Spathodea campanulata or the African tulip tree. Though it is an alien invasive species, it failed to spread much in the State. Its existence is also threatened. A number of bird species depend on this African tree. Says Dr Shaik Mahmood, head of department of botany, Nizam College, Osmania University, “These exotic plant species have made Hyderabad their home. They are of great environmental and taxonomical importance and add to the local biodiversity. We need to protect the remaining endangered trees from extinction.”

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Hyderabad / DC,  Hyderabad / September 28th, 2012

Hyderabad: Sculpture park at Shilparamam to open soon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad:

Amazed? That’s what the sculptors claim. The blooming of art ahead of the United Nations’ 11th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity might be of little interest to the general public, in particular cynics, who consider it a huge waste of money. But for sculptors, this is turning out to be a great opportunity to showcase their skills.

The sculpture park at Shilparamam due to be inaugurated soon is spread across six acres. It has many sculptures, some made of stone, some others of scrap metal, but the main attraction is obviously the 70 ft long Gulliver pinned to the ground by a horde of Liliputs. It is the brainchild of Tejendra Singh Baoni, professor and sculptor from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad, and Sunirmal Mity, an eminent sculptor from Shantiniketan in Kolkata. They are sure that Gulliver will be the cynosure of all eyes at Shilparamam from now on.

“We tried to bring art closer to the general public in a way that they could interact with the sculptures here. Usually, people do not understand contemporary art but we have put in efforts to reflect society through art. We could not ignore children and hence, Gulliver,” said Tejendra Singh Baoni.

The main attraction is the 70 feet long Gulliver pinned to the ground by a horde of Lilliputs

Echoing his views, Sunirmal Mity agreed, “in our country, people are not very conscious and aware of art. We want them to interact with these sculptures in the same way that they relate to some movie names or famous dialogues that have become colloquial phrases. We hope these sculptures present here too make an impression on the public consciousness like that.” He termed the move to have a sculpture park novel, pointing out that this is a new concept in the country itself.

Both Tejendra Singh Baoni and Sunirmal Mity have been working on the Gulliver’s metal sculpture for over a month and are confident of finishing their work in the coming days. “This will remain an open museum as the Gulliver’s sculpture if properly maintained will have a life span of over 50 years and probably nobody in the country has ever tried this sort of a metal structure. The sculptures made of stone will last for the next 900 years,” explained Tejendra Singh Baoni.

Some of the metal sculptures include a rooster fight, peacock, scorpion, crocodile, snake etc. As many as 64 sculptures carved out by 38 sculptors are being exhibited here. Sculptors, basically students and upcoming artisans, were drawn from all over the country. While from Andhra Pradesh, 15 were drafted in, 7 came from West Bengal, 5 from Gujarat, 3 from Karnataka, 2 each from Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, and one each from Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Chhattisgarh.

The inauguration of the sculpture park which was scheduled for Friday has been postponed indefinitely

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Hyderabad / The New Indian Express / IBN Hyderabad, September 22nd, 2012

4,000 Kuchipudi dancers to attempt Guinness record

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Anand Kuchibhotla (centre), founder and chairman of Silicon Andhra, releasing a poster of International Kuchipudi Dance Convention in Vijayawada on Friday. / Photo: CH. Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu

An attempt will be made to set a new Guinness record at the upcoming third International Kuchipudi Dance Convention, announced the Silicon Andhra Founder-Chairman Kuchibotla Anand.

At a meeting to release the official poster for the convention on Friday, he said that around 4,000 dancers would dance for “Brahmanjali and Dasavatara Sabdam” to create a new world record. This time the event would be held from December 23 to 25 in Hyderabad and the theme of the convention would be “Yuvatha Kuchipudi habitha!” (Youth is the Future of Kuchipudi), he said.

The main aim of these conventions is to promote Kuchipudi form of dance and provide a livelihood to the dancers and gurus, said Mr. Anand. More than 6,000 dancers from India as well as other countries like Italy, Ukraine and Russia would be attending this convention, he said.

The convention would be inaugurated on December 23 and there will be lecture demonstrations, workshops, research paper presentation and performances till December 24, said Mr. Anand. The highlight of the convention would be on December 25 when dancers from the Maha Brunda Natyam would try to set a new record, he added.

GUIDELINES

All the participants and delegates should register their names by paying a registration fee of Rs.600 on or before October 30 and Rs.700 on or before November 30 by Demand Draft drawn in favour of “Siliconandhra” payable at Hyderabad. The registration fee will allow delegates to attend all three days of the convention, receive a copy of souvenir and meals (breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner). Traditional Kuchipudi costume/make-up is compulsory for all participants of “Maha Brunda Natyam” and they should make their own arrangements. The participants should practise the dances made available on DVD/VCD and website: www.kuchipudi.siliconandhra.org. For further details contact Phone- 9866001119, 9989295939.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News>  Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / September 22nd, 2012

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated across Andhra with gaiety

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Vinayaka Chavithi was celebrated with devotion and gaiety across Andhra Pradesh today.

People thronged temples to offer prayers to Lord Ganesh and performed Vinayaka Chavithi Vratham to the idols installed at homes.

Lakhs of Ganesh idols were installed in residential colonies across the state which will be worshipped for nine days.

A huge Vinayaka idol, said to be 58 ft tall, was installed at Khairatabad here with a ‘laddu’ weighing 3,500 kilograms. It has been the tradition for many years that a tall idol is installed at Khairatabad.

Governor E S L Narasimhan and several political leaders offered prayers to the Khairatabad deity.

With various government agencies and NGOs and media organisations undertaking a massive campaign to use eco-friendly Ganesh idols, the use of clay idols has increased manifold this year.

Ganesh Chaturthi was also celebrated in offices of ruling Congress, main opposition Telugu Desam and other parties.

In Rajahmundhry, over 500 Ganesh idols of various sizes were installed across the city and a large number of devotees were seen queueing up for darshan at the famous Vinayaka Temple at Iyannavelli near here.

source: http://www.Business-Standard.com / Home> General News / Press Trust of India / Hyderabad, September 19th, 2012

Biodiversity quiz for school students

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Andhra Pradesh Forest Academy will organise a state-level biodiversity quiz for school students of classes VIII to XII.

Quiz will be held at Hyderabad Public School on September 22 at 3 p.m. and will have three levels of screening. Preliminary round will be conducted through a written test and the top 10 teams would go to the next round. The second round will involve quizzing by a renowned wildlife conservationist and five teams will be shortlisted for the final round.

Winners will be decided in the final round on Sept 23. Cash prizes will be given to top three teams (Rs 5000, Rs 3000 and Rs 2000 respectively).

Schools can send nominations of student for the quiz. Each school can nominate two teams.

Participants should report at the venue in their school uniforms along with ID cards. Any clarifications can be known from Forest Academy deputy director BV Rao on 9440816287 or 040-23097163.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Southern News> Hyderabad / The New Indian Express, Express News Service / September 20th, 2012

Gadicherla award presented to former Andhra University professor

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Katragadda Venkateswarlu, former professor of politics, Andhra University, receiving the Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao award in Visakhapatnam on Friday. / Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Prof. Venkateswarlu earned his living through his contributions to The Hindu, Andhra Patrika and Vignana Chandrika Grandha Mandali.

The 18t Gadicherla Award was presented to Katragadda Venkateswarlu, former professor of politics, Andhra University, in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Freedom fighter Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao was one of the pioneers of library and adult education movements in the combined Madras State besides participating in struggles championing the cause of various sections of society.

Responding to the felicitations, Prof. Venkateswarlu spoke on the prolific contribution of Gadicherla and his close association with several intellectual giants of the time. He expressed his ardent wish to delve deep into the works of the first Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University C.R. Reddy and Gadicherla to throw light on their immense contribution. Gadicherla went through a difficult life right from childhood but remained upright and patriotic. For most part of his life he earned his living through his contributions to The Hindu, Andhra Patrika and Vignana Chandrika Grandha Mandali.

Andhra University in charge Vice-Chancellor George Victor paid glowing tributes to Gadicherla. He recalled the teaching of Prof. Venkateswarlu focussing on social issues and burning problems. MLC K.S. Lakshmana Rao described Prof. Venkateswarlu as one of the four pillars of the Politics Department when he was a student. Foundation president K.C. Kalkura wanted the books on Gadicherla to be prescribed for Intermediate and degree courses. Politics Professor E.A. Narayana and L.I.Sc. Head of the Department C. Sasikala spoke.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Vishakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / September 15th, 2012

The Deccan is losing its history

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

“The city has lost so much of its past,” said best-selling author and historian William Dalrymple as he inaugurated the Centre of Deccan Studies at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University on Tuesday. Dalrymple, who was the chief guest and delivered the inaugural lecture on The Syncretic Civilisation of the Deccan, expressed his sadness over today’s Hyderabad.

“I was here during the ’90s when I was researching for my book White Mughals, but now I get lost when I come here. Hyderabad’s rate of conservation is the worst. Over years, beautiful buildings have been destroyed, art collections have been lost and natural fabric has been damaged. Raymond’s Tomb was bouldered, Moula Ali’s has been encroached upon,” he said during his interaction with the press. “Little has been done in the last 20 years while destruction has been ongoing. A big conservation needs to be done,” he added.

Talking about the Centre for Deccan studies, he said, “It’s absurd there’s not been a centre for Deccan Studies anywhere before. People here go on to study engineering and commerce but don’t know the history and literature of this part of the world.” On the controversial existence of the dancer Bhagmati, the love of Hyderabad founder Quli Qutub Shah’s life, in the history of Hyderabad, he didn’t take the bait, saying that he wasn’t qualified to answer that. “I am aware of the controversy, but I have never studied that period. All I can say is that one should not ignore the oral traditions. If this was to be looked as a case in the court, then one would take the word of the eyewitness over the people who have heard things weeks after,” he said.

On the Hyderabad Literature Festival, the co-founder of the Jaipur Lit Festival said, “I have not been to the lit fest so I don’t know how terrible or good it is, but three elements need to be kept in mind: there has to be 2/3 desi to 1/3 incomers (ratio), more nationalities need to be involved, raising sponsorship. What could be a USP is that the directors of the Jaipur fest are writers themselves. We are hunting in our own forests.”

Dalrymple’s next, The Return Of A King, which tells the story of a Anglo-Mughal, will be out in December.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> All-Rounders / by Babli Yadav, DC / September 12th, 2012

Rudraksha being grown in East Godavari

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, Science & Technology

‘Ekamukhi’ rudraksha plant brought by a nursery in Kadiam village in the district two years ago starts flowering

The ‘ekamukhi’ (single-segmented) rudraksha plant, now confined to the Himalayas and India-Nepal border, is now being grown in the semi-arid tropical climate of East Godavari district.

Gangumalla Satyanarayana and his brothers, are among the hundreds of farmers engaged in growing nurseries of the plant in the district now. It was Sri Satyanarayana Nursery of Kadiam, owned by the Gangumalla brothers, that first grew the ‘ekamukhi’ rudraksha plant in the district. “We bought the plant about two years ago in Bangalore and the age of the plant at the time was three years. It began flowering four months ago. We only know that it is a rudraksha plant. But, recently a swamji told us that it was ‘ekamukhi’,” said Nagesh, one of the brothers. “The plant has grown into a small tree and hundreds of rudraksha buds of green colour with flowers hang from it now,” he says.

Hindus believe that ‘ekamukhi’ rudraksha is a resemblance of Lord Siva. Generally, rudraksha beads have five lines (mukhi) on them. They stand for five segments of the bead. Each segment contains a seed in it. But, ‘ekamukhi’ has only one seed, which is the most wanted variety.

Mr. Reddy, who is in charge of the Sri Satyanarayana Nursery, says ‘ekamukhi’ rudraksha is available in five or six shapes and presently their nursery grows the plant that bears oval-shaped Rudraksha. ‘Ekamukhi’ can be tested by a simple formula: put it in a bowl of milk and it will not degenerate for five days.

As for the size of the rudraksha, Mr. Nagesh said they had grown the plant in open air and had not taken due care as they had not realised its importance. “If the plant is properly maintained, the size and shape of the bead will match the rudraksha available on the Nepal border,” he said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by B.V.S. Bhaskar / Rajahmundry, September 10th, 2012

GHMC hires heritage consultant

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has appointed a consultant to take up modernisation of heritage structures like Unani Hospital at Charminar, Mozamjahi Market and others to bring back the aesthetic old look, GHMC commissioner M T Krishna Babu said here on Sunday.

The GHMC will also take up modern street lighting from Charminar to Chandrayangutta road on the lines of Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP).

Seven-eight years old palm trees would be planted on central dividers from Charminar to Chndrayangutta. The beautification work costs Rs 7 crore and will be completed by the end of this month

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / September 10th, 2012