Visakhapatnam: Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana on Sunday launched Sobha Yatra for the annual Pydithalli Sirimanotsav in Vizianagaram on Monday.
The Sobha Yatra started from the Pydithalli Goddess Temple. Going via Fort and Simhachalam Meda, it culminated at Gurajada Kalakshetram. Traditional folk dances, tableaux of NCC cadets, skating by school children, and folk arts like Dhimsa, Tappeta Gullu, Kolatam, bull show, boxing, weight lifting, and tiger dances formed part of the yatra.
The minister launched the cultural festival at Gurajada Kalakshetram and informed the gathering that cultural activities and traditional dances would add colour to the Sirimanotsav. He said lakhs of people are expected to participate in the Sirimanotsav, half of them from neighbouring districts and states.
“I wish Goddess Pydithalli blessed our Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for extending social welfare schemes for the downtrodden in the state,” Satyanarayana said.
Speaking on the occasion, deputy speaker and area MLA Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy said festivals manifest the cultural richness of a region. He asked people to cooperate with the government to ensure that the three-day festival passes smoothly.
District collector S. Nagalakshmi said the Pydithalli festival is an opportunity to demonstrate all art forms so that children get to know the cultural richness of the district.
Zilla parishad chairman Majji Srinivasa Rao, mayor V. Vijayalakshmi, deputy mayor Laya Yadav, public representatives, and officials were present on the occasion.
Authorities are expecting three lakh people for the Sirimanotsav and have made arrangements accordingly.
