Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, who has inherited three divergent cultural geographies in the form of successor state of Andhra Pradesh, is struggling a lot to construct a single culture identity for the state of Andhra Pradesh. Unlike Telangana, which is culturally a single unit at macro level, Naidu’s Andhra Pradesh is composed of three regions Rayalaseema, Northa coastal Andhra, and core Andhra (circar ) region, which are culturally, economically and socially poles apart. While the first two are backward regions, the third, Andhra area, is a fertile, money rich delta region. Location of capital in the fertile region has created irreversible chasm between the backward and advanced Andhra regions. So, sensing trouble in future, Naidu is planning to construct a single, catch-all cultural identity, to nip the resentment in the bud. His struggle is evident in the way the foundation stone laying ceremony is being organized as a culture festival.
Noted sculptor Rajiv Sethi is designing a grand memorial at Amaravati, the upcoming capital city, in an extent of 200 acres, which according to chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, will become a major tourist spot in the city. It will have a big tourist gallery and a museum depicting the theme of Amaravati city through the ages. To make the memorial sacred spot, the water gathered from all the rivers across the country , will be used in the construction of the memorial. On the eve of foundation laying ceremony, prayer will be conducted 150 temples, 50 churches and 50 masjids all over Andhra Pradesh. The chief minister instructed the official to collect the letters containing the pledge that they are committed to build the temple from the people from 16000 villages in the states. All these letters will be preserved in a time capsule. A Jyothi( torch) symbolising the Amravati fulfilment should be brought from every mandal to Amaravati. CRDA will bring about the booklets with information about the greatness of site of capital Amaravati and the importance of building a world-class capital and ensure they reached every student in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The booklet carry the message,” centre of world’s investments, future destination of youth”. The cabinet,which is meeting on Saturday, will decide the various programs be conducted during the official festival program from October 13 to October 21. Chief minister also instructed the official to organize the foundation stone laying ceremony in such a spectacular way that it should go down in the history of Andhra Pradesh as turning point.
These are instructions chief minister issues to collectors, other district officials along with state officials in a video conference he addressed from his camp office in Vijayawada. The state government has already declared the October 13-21 official celebration. Though not region specific festivals, Sankranti and Dasara had been celebrated as state festival last year. The Kodandarama temple in Ontimitta, Kadapa, had become the Bhadrachalam of Andhra Pradesh. Naidu has launched a tradition of the celebrating Srirama Navami festival this year.
