Picture for representational purpose only. / Deccan Chronicle
Rajahmundry:
In a bid to promote tourism and facilitate exchange of culture and traditions between tribals and people from plain areas, the East Godavari administration is organising a three-day tribal festival called ‘Manyam Jatara Choodimi’ on the premises of Government Junior College grounds at Rampachodavaram from March 29 to 31.
The authorities are planning to organise a series of cultural programmes depicting the tribal customs, practices, traditions and culture. The tribals will perform their traditional dances and also render songs.
As the tribals celebrate after harvesting traditional crops, the authorities are making arrangements to accommodate such celebrations also during the festival.
Rampachodavaram sub-collector Gandham Chandrudu told newsmen here on Tuesday that the district administration in association with department of tourism and Integrated Tribal Development Agency is organising the tribal festival which is first of its kind in the agency areas in the state.
He said that that state government had sanctioned Rs 15 lakh to organise the festival. The arrangements are being made in agency for the tribal festival similar to those made during the conduct of beach festival ‘Sagara Sambaralu’ recently at Kakinada beach.
As many as 30 stalls are going to be set up with 15 of commercial nature while 15 from various departments. A book exhibition with the display of titles of prominent writers from agency areas and a photo exhibition depicting the important tourist and religious places will also be set up.
The visitors will be taken to the tourist attractions in the agency. The authorities are organising gaming zones for the kids at the festival.
A replica of Annavaram temple of Satyanarayana Swamy will be set up and the devotees will be given ‘prasadam’ free of cost.
To oversee the arrangements, a district-level committee headed by collector Neethu Kumari Prasad and 11 sub-committees are set up. Tribals from neighbouring agency areas in West Godavari and Khammam are also invited to take part in the festivities.
Meanwhile, Collector Neethu Kumari Prasad reviewed the arrangements with the officials at Kakinada.
source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / March 27th, 2013