Vijayawada: The city on Monday wore a festive look with people gearing up for New Year celebrations in a big way. Several star hotels are coming out with attractive packages for New Year celebrations.
The Hailand resort at Chinnakakani, 15 km from Vijayawada is going to welcome the New Year by organising the New Year bash-2014 from Tuesday night.
Actors Hamsanandini, Priyanka Kotari and playback singers are expected to enthral the attendees.
The Gateway hotel will organise the Rendezvous, to celebrate the New Year. The hotel plans to offer prizes to its customers as part of the celebrations.
The organisers will also conduct competitions for couples and kids.
The Fortune Murali Park has been decked up to welcome the New Year with the theme “Wild West”. Playback singers will be part of the celebrations.
At Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation's Berm Park, Milan, will be hold an event to usher in the New Year, in which television artistes will participate.
Likewise, New Year celebrations will also be held at the DV Manor Food Plaza, Vijayawada Club and at several other places.
Several bar and restaurants have been also decked up for New Year celebrations. Citizens, particularly those who have access to farmhouses are also expected to host private parties.
2013: A year of protests
Vijayawada: Year 2013 turned out to be a year of dharnas and padayatras in Krishna district.
TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu organised Vastunna Meekosam yatra from Garikapadu checkpost in Krishna district on January 21. Local MP Lagadapati Rajagopal tried to stall the yatra but was arrested.
Naidu continued his second round of Vastunna Meekosam yatra in the district again from Penumudi bridge near Avanigadda on February 27, ending it abruptly on March 8.
YSR Congress leader Sharmila Reddy started a padayatra from Prakasam Barrage on March 26. The party’s honorary president Y.S. Vijayalakshmi toured the cyclone-affected villages on October 27.
Bandhs, padayatras and protests for Samaikyandhra continued for more than three months from July to October. Government employees went on a 66-day long strike in protest against state bifurcation. They returned to duties on October 18.
Students in large number participated in the dharnas organised in protest against bifurcation.
Suvarna Pandadas assumed charge as municipal commissioner on January 16. He was transferred in October and C. Harikiran assumed charge as municipal commissioner.
Dasari Harichandana assumed charge as Vijayawada sub-collector on March 20 and M. Ragunandana Rao assumed charge as district collector on October 14.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy dedicated the Pulichintala project to the nation on December 7.
Neena Davuluri, grand daughter of Montesorri college correspondent V. Koteswaramma was named Miss America on September 16, 2013.
Next: Cellphones change the way we greet loved ones
Cellphones change the way we greet loved ones
B. Tharun Kumar | DC
Vijayawada: The custom of extending one’s best wishes to a loved one by way of sending a greeting card is slowly but surely dying out, with each passing year.
Earlier, a majority of the people, right from students to senior citizens, used to throng shops to purchase greeting cards and gifts for their near and dear ones for various occasions.
This custom was more evident during Christmas and New Year.
However, thanks to the advent of multimedia message services (MMS), short message services (SMS) and email facilities, the charm of sending cards greeting a loved one, as well as the tradition itself, has almost ended.
P. Krishnaji, owner of a gift and card shop near St. Paul’s Cathedral, said “Factors like inflation and spread of mobile phones has hit the greeting cards industry.
The worst part is that manufacturers have stopped working on new designs keeping in mind the poor sales.”
The high price of paper too has pushed up the cost of these cards, driving the buyers further away. Even the smallest greeting card now costs as much as Rs 25 and a sizeable one sets the buyer back by at least Rs 200.
Recalling the days when customers are asked to wait outside his shop owing to huge rush, D. Arjuna owner of cards shop in Vasavya complex at Benz Circle, said that he used to sell at least five lakh cards during December, less than a decade earlier.
“People used to visit the shop right from September. They would post the cards to their relatives and friends abroad.
Now, the internet has killed everything and greetings are being sent online,” Arjuna said.
Sadly, these two shops, once landmarks in themselves, are now on the verge of becoming confined to history.
