Andhra Pradesh’s cultural history can be summarized under the sections of Art, Architecture, Literature, Cuisine, Clothing and Religion/Philosophy.
Classical dance in Andhra can be performed by both men and women; however women tend to learn it more often. Kuchipudi is the state’s best-known classical dance forms of Andhra Pradesh. The various dance forms that existed through the states’ history are Chenchu Bhagotam, Kuchipudi, Bhamakalapam, Burrakatha, Veeranatyam, Butta bommalu, Dappu, Tappeta Gullu, Dhimsa, and Kolattam.
Harikatha (lit. “stories of the Lord”), originated in Andhra is a form of Hindu religious discourse, in which the story teller explores a religious theme, usually the life of a saint or a story from an Indian epic. Harikatha Kalakshepam is most prevalent in Andhra Pradesh even now along with Burra katha. Haridasus going round villages singing devotional songs is an age-old tradition during Dhanurmaasam preceding Sankranti festival.
Bapu’s paintings, Nanduri Subbarao’s Yenki Paatalu (Songs on/by a washerwoman called Yenki), mischievous Budugu (a character by Mullapudi), Annamayya’s songs, Aavakaaya (a variant of mango pickle in which the kernel of mango is retained), Gongura (a chutney from Roselle plant), Atla Taddi (a seasonal festival predominantly for teenage girls), banks of river Godavari, Dudu basavanna (The ceremonial ox decorated for door-to-door exhibition during the harvest festival Sankranti) have long defined Telugu culture. The village of Durgi is known for originating stone craft, carvings of idols in soft stone that must be exhibited in the shade because they are prone to weathering.
Andhra Pradesh is home to some of the finest historical cloth making/fashion and dying traditions of the world. Its rich cotton production, with its innovative plant dye extraction history stand next to its diamond mining, pearl harvesting and jewelry traditions to form an impressive fashion tradition that has stood the test of time. Langa-Voni (Half saree), Sarees made in Kalamkari, Bidri, Nirmal paintings, fascinating weaves from Gadwal, Venkatagiri are the result of this time tested (3000 year) fashion tradition. Vaddaanam, Aravanke, Kashulahaaram, Buttalu and various standard gold jewelry designs are fine examples of this continuously evolving ancient tradition.
Tholu Bommalata is the shadow puppet theatre tradition of the state of Andhra Pradesh . Its performers are part of a group of wandering entertainers and peddlers who pass through villages during the course of a year and offer to sing ballads, tell fortunes, sell amulets, perform acrobatics, charm snakes, weave fishnets, tattoo local people and mend pots. This ancient custom, which for centuries before radio, movies, and television provided knowledge of Hindu epics and local folk tales, not to mention news, spread to the most remote corners of the subcontinent. Tholu Bommalata literally means “the dance of leather puppets” (tholu – leather and bommalata – puppet dance).The puppeteers make up some of the various entertainers who perform all night and usually reenact various stories from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The Cultural Centre is a studio for both performing arts and handicrafts. The spacious hall facilitates the artisans to display and demonstrates of their crafts like the Kondapalli Toys, Pedana Kalamkari Textiles , Mangalagiri cottons, Leather puppetry of Nimmalakunta, Stone craft of Durgi and Allagadda, Wood Craft of Kalahasthi and Madavamala etc.
It is a known fact that Vijayawada has been one of the major cultural capitals of the Telugu language speaking people. Over of a period of time, many people migrated from Vijayawada to various other cities on several purposes such as employment, trading, and business etc.,
This migration of a considerable size of culture lovers from out of Vijayawada has resulted in decline of importance for cultural and traditional arts of Krishna District in particular and Telugu people in general which use to be ubiquitous in and around Vijayawada.
Adding to this, swift development of Hyderabad as one of the futuristic global cities has attracted many people from Vijayawada to migrate to Hyderabad. Further, for several reasons including financial problems, lack of encouragement, rampant promotion of various artificial items and machine churned out articles, many of the artisan families have abandoned their art and embraced other works in search of livelihood.
In some other cases, the younger generations in the artisan families have withdrawn from the practice of their hereditary and ancestral arts resulting in degeneration of the traditional arts to a great extent. These arts, which are in dire need of an immediate support,would have otherwise suffered near casualty, unless small efforts like CCVAwent to their support along with the handholding from different corners.
Due to the unfortunate developments of decline in the patronage and prominence for the local cultural and traditional art, the glory of Vijayawada as the Cultural Centre has gradually declined. This in turn resulted in decline of visits by art-loving tourists, decline of employment opportunities, fallen revenues from art related activities, waning of affinity, affection, emotional relationships and human bonding among the people of this origin.
Consequently, the art loving Telugu people are deprived of the delight and the amusement they use to get from the rich cultural and traditional arts of the local region.
Many a times, natives of Vijayawada have expressed their desire about the preservation of the cultural and traditional art of Vijayawada and surrounding regions. There has been news in the various media coverage, expressing concern over the constant decline of the culture, tradition and related arts.
‘The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati’ has been established in May 2014, against this background and in honour of the rich culture and art. The objects of Cultural Centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati (CCVA) include many activities that will facilitate the revival / resurrection of the culture, tradition and related arts.
The principal office for CCVA is at D.No. 32-9-17, 17A, & 32-2-6, MadhuMalaxmi Chambers, Madhu Gardens, Mogalrajpuram, Vijayawada 520010, Andhra Pradesh.
The activities of CCVA were launched / inaugurated by Shri Y.S. Chowdary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Science, Government of India.
CCVA is delighted to have Prof. E. Sivanagi Reddy as its full time Chief Executive Officer, who has been initiating the planned programmes. Prof. Sivanagi Reddy has obtained his Ph.D from the University of Hyderabad, MBA from MS University, and MTM from MK University.
Dr. Reddy had served in the Government sector for more than 30 years and his previous assignments include Professor, Dean, and Director of National Institute of Tourism and Hospital Management, Officer of Special Duty, Dept. of Archeology and Museums, Govt. of AP., Director, State Gallery of Arts, Govt. of AP, Hyderabad, etc.
He authored about 34 books and more than 200 articles on Art, Archeology, Budhism and Tourism.He was conferred upon with various revered titles including ‘Vastusilpa Vachaspati’ and ‘Sthapati’ etc for his outstanding contribution in the relevant fields.
Dr. Sivanagi Reddy is supported by a team of dedicated officers. The entire team, including Dr. Sivanagi Reddy, the CEO, is operating as a team in promoting the objectives of CCV.
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