Vijayawada witnessed a spectacular end to its ten-day cultural festival as Vijayawada Utsav 2.0 concluded with a grand carnival on Tuesday night.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the mega carnival featuring nearly 2,000 folk and traditional artists. Colourful performances, including Baahubali-themed dance sequences, Tappeta Gullu and Kommu dances, kept the audience entertained. Fireworks added to the festive atmosphere as the city gave the celebrations a memorable send-off.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Chandrababu Naidu said he had prayed to Goddess Durga for the strength to overcome drought and bring prosperity to the state. He also spoke about the government’s focus on development, welfare and employment opportunities for young people.
The festival began on October 11 with Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha lighting the ceremonial lamp. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath, popularly known as Chinni, played an important role in organising the event with support from the state Tourism Department.
Punnami Ghat emerged as one of the festival’s biggest attractions. The Krishna River waterfront came alive every evening with dance performances, laser shows and drone displays. The National Saras Mela added to the excitement with more than 650 stalls run by women from self-help groups across the country.
The festival also drew national attention as two states’ chief ministers visited the utsav. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay attended on October 13 and discussed river interlinking with Chandrababu Naidu. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Vijayawada on October 17 and offered prayers to Goddess Durga.
Vijayawada Utsav 2.0 gave the city ten days of celebration and entertainment, and the grand carnival brought the festivities to a fitting close.
