Andhra Pradesh State government today released Rs 13 crore to every district, and Rs 2 lakh to secretariat employees association to celebrate the Sankranti festival for two days in the way that articulate the Telugu culture and traditions.

As the celebrations are meant to unite the people Andhra Pradesh, the culture department issued the order related to the release of Rs 13. 02 crore in Telugu. Even though chief minister Naidu talks of Telugu people, Telugu culture and of late Telugu talent as he referred to at partnership summit being held in Vizag, government orders are seldom issued in Telugu. However, culture department today chose to issue the Sankranti orders in Telugu.

The government asked the people to celebrate the festival for two days ie January 12 and 13 and participate in the competition being organized by the government in Muggulu (Rangoli) and traditional Telugu vantalu. The government also asked the officials to organize the competitions in Kabaddi, Kite running, smart wart & smart village and cattle shows etc. The government also instructed the officials to organize 5k and 10 k runs for the people of the villages. The department of culture asked the district officials to promote Gangireddulu, Haridasulu, gobbemmalu and toys shows.

The government asked the district administrations to make the Shilparamams set up in Kadapa, Tirupati, Puttaparthi, Vijayawada and Vizag as centres for these celebrations and these centre should stand for the promotion of the Telugu culture, arts and literature.

What is most interesting is, taking cognizance of the existence of MPTC, ZPTC and municipal ward councilors, the government asked the district officials to invite them to these functions in order increase involvement of the people and people’s representatives at grassroots level.