Cultural Festival By Praja Natya Mandali

What is the best way to promote the traditional arts in a modern city that strides confidently along the path of espousing all that is new, with eschewing what is old being a side-effect that can at best be described as unintentional? These folks are actually having artists take to the roads. Well, like Lao-Tzu said, a journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet.

The Praja Natya Mandali, a cultural organization that has five of its units in the twin cities, is affiliated to the Indian People Theater Association (IPTA), and basically works towards the promotion of folklore, though it takes interest in other cultural activities too. And the Mandali is organizing a 3-day festival this month for this purpose. The festival starts with a cinema song competition for juniors and seniors on the morning of the 8th. Those below the age of 18 will be treated as junior, and those above will have to compete in seniors' category.

On the 9th at 3pm there will be a 'Kalakarula' (artists') procession from Mugdan to Sri Thyagaraja Gana Sabha, sloganeering about the importance of art and artists, thereby creating awareness among the common public. In the evening there will be 'Golla Suddulu' (songs & dance), a drama called Prudvi Sooktam and Dappu Nrutyam (drum dance).

On the 10th at 10.30am there will be a seminar on Samskruti Varasatva Parirakshana (saving traditional culture) by Prof V Ramakrishna, Prof P V Rama and Dr Mrunalini. And at 3pm there will be a mono-action show and some other cultural programs like songs and magic by a deaf and dumb person called C Ravi Chandra (a Limca record holder). The day's program will conclude with a drama 'Vuppena Vachhindi' and the prize distribution ceremony for the winners in the songs and the mono-action competitions.

The chief guests on the final day will be Vandematharam Srinivas, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam and others. IPTA vice-president Pratap Reddy will preside.

Please contact Rajeswara Rao at 461-4909 / 374-0205 for further details.