Telangana Day: Tank Bund ready for June 2; dance ballet, flag march, state song main attractions

Hyderabad: A folk-style ‘dance ballet’ highlighting the glory of Telangana through its unique festivals and fairs like Bathukamma, Bonalu and Sammakka Jatara is going to be a special attraction in the cultural extravaganza that will be held on June 2 at Tank Bund, as part of decennial celebrations of the formation of Telangana State.

Another standout programme is the flag march by 5,000 state police personnel, each one holding a national flag and moving in rhythm with the ‘Jaya Jayahe’ Telangana State full song (over 13 minutes) that will be played in the background.

Providing more details about the event, Mamidi Harikrishna, director of the Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana, said that they have lined up special performances, stage shows, police band performances, flag march, fireworks and laser shows etc. to go with food, handicraft, amusement and entertainment activity stalls that will be set up at Tank Bund for the June 2 celebrations.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Cabinet ministers, MLAs, MLCs and corporation chairpersons will be among the 200-odd VVIPs who will be gracing the event, Harikrishna said.

Telangana art on proud display

Nearly 24 art forms, most of them native to Telangana, will be showcased by tribal artists and performers coming from various parts of the State.

Gussadi, Kommu Koya, Dhimsa, Chenchulu, Oggu Dolu, Bonala Kolatam, Shiva Sattulu, Bathukammalu, Bonalu, Banjara (Lambadi), Mathuri, Baindla Jamidikalu, Kati Kaparulu, Chindu Yakshaganam, Dappulu performances by male and female artists will enthral the audience.

A special stage has been erected for the dance ballet on Telangana festivals and fairs and Perini and fusion style dance beside the Kuchipudi Neerajanam.

A couple of Padmasri Awardees and previous winners of the Ustad Bismillah Khan awards, all hailing from Telangana, have consented to showcase their talents that were given nationwide acclaim. Padmasri Kanaka Raju and his team from Adilabad will be performing Gussadi dance while Padmasri Gaddam Sammaiah from Jangaon district will be performing Chindu Yakshaganam.

Events will start at 5 pm

While the main cultural show is slated from 7 pm to 9 pm when the CM, ministers and other dignitaries will be in attendance, the carnival will commence from 5 pm onwards.

Singers and artists from the Telangana Samskruthika Sarathi wing will be performing chorus singing and dancing for Telangana folk songs based on the Statehood movement, freedom fighters and Telangana martyrs’ roles to keep the audience engaged before the main programme that starts at 7 pm.

Stalls have been erected on the Tank Bund stretch for the convenience of the crowd turning up for the cultural carnival. Food and recipes especially from the Telangana region and handloom and handicraft products made by self-help groups and societies will be on display in the stalls area. Amusement and entertainment activity stalls have also been set up for kids and children accompanying their parents.

Harikrishna said that the culture department and artists, performers and artisans are all geared up to ensure the big success of the cultural carnival at Tank Bund on June 2.