The three-day annual festival, Visakha Utsav-2018m got to a colourful start here on Friday, with a carnival. It was the students of various colleges and schools and NCC cadets, who stole the show in the carnival, which was the main event in the inaugural programme, at RK Beach.

The carnival began with the performance of girls from Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), followed by the Naval Band. A large number of students from around 30 schools, entertained the crowd with their myriad performances. The carnival, marched from Andhra University Convention Centre to the main venue at RK Beach. Students from DAV School, Visakha Valley school, Sri Chaitanya Techno, Sri Krishna Grammar School and many others took part, carrying placards ‘We love Vizag’.

A number of students donning, traditional attire came up with folk dances such as ‘Puli Veshalu’. Many spectators were seen clicking selfies with the performers, as they marched down the road. The NCC students who marched down the road humming ‘Left-Right-Left, Ek-Do-Ek’ along with the ENC band, caught the imagination of the spectators.

Athletes from the District Sports Authority, representing various teams such as hockey, football, basketball, archery, cycling and boxing were also part of the contingent.

ENC pepped up the show with an air operational display by its Chetak Helicopter near the shores. The marching contingent was followed by tableau representing various government departments.

Food stalls

“The carnival was amazing. The best thing in it was that the local students were given the opportunity to perform. We really liked the way schoolchildren performed various folk dances with flair,” said M. Manasi, an employee in a private firm, who came to see the carnival with her children.

A number of lip-smacking food stalls serving fast foods like chat, pani poori, samosas, rolls, ice creams, biryanis, special delicacies of the State like Athreyapuram Pootharekulu, Madugula Halwa, and many others were arranged on the shore. Entertainment zone with giant wheel, play activities for kids were also organised .

Despite the carnival was liked by many, the fun of it was dampened when many had to face the traffic snarl that began around 4 p.m. A number of areas such as Siripuram Junction, AIR Junction, Jagannadha swamy temple area, witnessed traffic jams. Vehicles were restricted from Park Hotel Junction to Naval Coastal Battery.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – December 29th, 2018