45,000+ Visitors Celebrate Telugu Flavours and Heritage at Amaravati Avakaya Festival

The three-day ‘Amaravati Avakaya’ festival , a colourful celebration of Telugu culture, cuisine and performing arts , concluded in a grand manner on Sunday at Punnami Ghat and Bhavani Island in Vijayawada, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of over 45,000 visitors . Designed as a fusion of tradition and entertainment, the event showcased the cultural pride of Andhra Pradesh through the flavours of avakaya (mango pickle) , stage performances, cinema discussions and literary sessions.

The festival also gained added prominence with the participation of top dignitaries. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , who described avakaya as more than just a delicacy, calling it a distinct identity marker of Andhra and Telugu heritage . Adding an international touch, reports also noted the presence of European Union Ambassador Hervé Delphin , reflecting a wider attempt to position the festival as a cultural platform with broader outreach.

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony, Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh announced that the government will now conduct the festival officially every year , citing the rare public response and the strong footfall witnessed across venues. He also revealed that the next edition has already been planned for December 17, 18 and 19, 2026 , indicating that the festival will be developed as a key annual event on Andhra Pradesh’s cultural and tourism calendar.

Organised by Team Works Arts , the festival brought together prominent personalities from the fields of cinema, literature and theatre , turning Vijayawada into a vibrant cultural hub for three days. Among the most talked-about events was a special discussion on the life and legacy of legendary actor NTR , which attracted large attention. A separate session on ‘Literature and Cinema’ , featuring well-known film director Kodi Ramakrishna Reddy and celebrated writer Yandamuri Veerendranath , prompted thoughtful conversations among audiences on how literature continues to shape cinema.

The festival’s cultural lineup also received wide appreciation, particularly performances by Drama Academy Chairman Gummadi Gopalakrishna , whose Kurukshetra verses and solo acting stood out as highlights. Ventriloquism shows and interactive performances drew children and youth in large numbers, adding a family-friendly flavour to the festival experience.

Tourism officials noted that the festival significantly boosted local tourism, with Bhavani Island emerging as a key attraction. Reports suggested visitor numbers surged due to improved arrangements, holiday-season crowds and festival-linked activities such as boating initiatives. Importantly, the strong turnout has been seen as a positive revival for Bhavani Island tourism , which had recently suffered disruptions due to flood-related closures and repeated setbacks .

In his speech, Minister Durgesh used the occasion to reaffirm the government’s focus on strengthening arts and cultural platforms. Criticising the earlier administration for allegedly neglecting artists, he promised that the present coalition government would give greater priority to cultural sectors , and announced that the state would soon revive the long-pending Nandi Awards . He also said Nandi Theatre Festivals would be organised to honour talent, adding that awards like Ugadi Puraskars and Kandukuri awards have already been distributed and more recognitions would follow.

The festival saw the participation of MLAs including Bonda Umamaheswara Rao , Vasantha Krishna Prasad and Shajahan Basha , along with Tourism Department Special Chief Secretary Ajay Jain , MD Amrapali Kata , and representatives of Team Works and other officials.

With government backing, strong public participation and plans already set for the 2026 edition, the Amaravati Avakaya Festival is now being positioned not merely as a celebration of flavours, but as a flagship cultural event one that highlights Amaravati as a people’s capital and avakaya as Andhra’s signature tradition , while simultaneously strengthening Vijayawada’s standing as an emerging hub for cultural tourism.