World Telugu Conference to commence in LB Stadium today

Hyderabad: For the next five days, it will be all about Telugu in the City of Pearls. Telugu poems, Telugu literature, and Telugu culture will take centre-stage as the World Telugu Conference (WTC) commences at the Lal Bahadur Stadium on Friday evening.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will launch the event at 5 p.m. in the presence of Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. President Ram Nath Kovind will participate in the valedictory function on December 19. As per Telugu tradition, the Vice President, the Chief Minister and other VIPs will be extended a Purnakumbha Swagatham.

The venue, which is named after Palakuriki Somana, and the main stage, after Bammera Pothana, have been decked up with colourful lights and welcome arches. All the streets and main thoroughfares in the city are sporting colourful arches, each named after different poets and Telugu legends. The inaugural ceremony will feature a special documentary on Telangana culture and heritage, and a dance show “Jaya Jayosthu Telangana” penned by Deshapathi Srinivas.

Delegates from 40 nations

Over 8,000 delegates, including those from 40



countries and 1,250 from other States, are participating in the conference. All through the five days of the conference, there will be discussions, talks and debates on Telugu literature and culture, apart from poetry and story sessions.

There will be food stalls for delegates and participants to relish authentic Telangana cuisine, sweets, desserts and savouries. For lovers of literature, over 25 book stalls are being arranged at different venues.

Apart from LB stadium, the main venue, different programmes will be organized at the other venues including those at the Telugu University, Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium, Ravindra Bharathi, Telangana Saraswatha Parishat and others.

Objective

The objective behind organizing the conference is to promote Telugu and its literature, and to help the present generation learn more about Telangana and its rich culture and heritage, said Telangana Sahitya Akademi Chairman N Sidda Reddy.

A thick security cover with over 3,000 security personnel, door frame metal detectors, hand-held detectors and surveillance cameras has been arranged at strategic locations to ensure that the event goes off peacefully.