Sri City, September 28, 2024 – Sri City, a leading industrial hub, under the auspices of the Srivani Spiritual and Literary Forum, hosted a vibrant cultural weekend that showcased the rich heritage of Telugu folk art and spiritual traditions. The events included a captivating talk on Telugu folklore and art forms by Dr. Chigicherla Krishna Reddy and a sacred Go-puja ceremony at Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
Dr. Krishna Reddy emphasised that Telugu folk art forms, which have been a crucial part of the region’s culture for thousands of years, serve as the “language of the soul” and offer a window into the history and identity of Telugu culture. He stressed the need to preserve these traditions to honour ancestors and pass them on to future generations. The talk featured various folk art forms, such as Tatwaalu, Vestiganam, Veedhi Natakam, Kolatam, Burrakatha, Urumu nrutyam, Bhajana patalu, and several more, with Dr. Krishna Reddy performing folk songs from different regions, demonstrating their unique dialects and literary styles.
Expressing concern over the decline of these traditions, he attributed the loss to a lack of public support and the effects of globalisation, which has distanced folk arts from their cultural roots. He called on cultural organisations and the government to invest in reviving the 114 endangered folk art forms and urged younger generations to reconnect with their heritage.
Dr. Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder Managing Director of Sri City, appreciated Dr. Krishna Reddy’s presentation and acknowledged the need to preserve these folklore and art forms. He announced that Srivani, as part of its activities, would develop plans to support the revival of some of these cultural traditions.
Go-Puja Ceremony Held at Temple
As part of the same day’s events, a Go-puja (cow worship) ceremony was held at the Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy temple in Sri City, coinciding with the second Saturday of the auspicious Peratasi month. The ceremony, attended by devotees including Dr. Ravindra Sannareddy and Dr. Krishna Reddy was conducted with deep religious devotion. Special rituals, including Vedic chants and Suprabhaata Seva, were performed, creating a serene and divine atmosphere.
Vedic scholars present at the ceremony spoke on the significance of Go-puja, emphasising the sacred relationship between ‘Govinda and Gomata’. The aforementioned events, coordinated by Mr. Palleti Balaji and Mr. PSB Sastry, drew devotees from Sullurupeta, Tada, and Sriharikota, as well as the Sri City community.