Amaravati: A cultural treat awaits connoisseurs as the first edition of Amaravati Global Music and Dance Festival opens on the banks of river Krishna at Pavitra Sangamam on the outskirts of Vijayawada city on February 10.
The four-day mega event is being organised by the Andhra Pradesh government as part of its efforts to promote 'Brand Amaravati' and give a thrust to tourism, coinciding with the National Women Parliament being held at the same venue from February 10-12.
Pavitra Sangamam is the confluence point of rivers Godavari and Krishna and the area is now being developed into a major tourist attraction in the capital region Amaravati.
The festival, scheduled from 5.30 pm to 10 pm on all four days, will feature Indian and Western classical music (orchestral), Bollywood, global fusion, folk and contemporary world music besides Indian classical dances.
"The festival is intended to present the popular global music and dancegenres. These art forms bring in peace and harmony by exposing us todifferent cultures and the idea is to attract the world audience to come and experience Amaravati," Krishna district Collector Babu Ahamed said.
The opening day will see a Kathak performance by Pandit Birju Maharaj and Saswati Sen followed by the Kazakh State Philharmonic Orchestra led by violin maestro L Subramaniam.
It will be a Bollywood night on the 11th with dancers matching their steps to the mellifluous voice of Kavita Krishnamurti. Bhajan and ghazal singers Anup Jalota, Suresh Wadkar, Talat Aziz, Langas and Purno Das Baul will present 'Visions of India' through their renditions.
Reputed mother-daughter duo of Vyjayanthi Kashi and Prateeksha will take the stage on February 12 for a special Kuchipudi dance performance while ace percussionist Trilok Gurtu will also showcase his skills.
On the final day, the semi-classical Chhau dance form of eastern India will be presented followed by a global fusion by SubraMania duo of India along with international artistes Solo Cissokho and Jeno Lizstes.
The festival ends with a Kuchipudi dance ballet Mahalakshmi by actress Hema Malini and troupe at 8.15 PM on the concluding day.
The festival includes performances by other local artistes as well.
"I look forward to making Amaravati a global hub for culture and Amaravati Global Music and Dance Festival is an important step in this direction," Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said in a message ahead of the event.
