CM to inaugurate Kuchipudi dance fest on Jan 26

Kuchipudi, Jan 12: The three-day Siddendra Yogi Mahotsav 2010 will be held on Jan 26 to mark the birth anniversary of Siddendra Yogi in Kuchipudi, 50 km away from Vijayawada in the Krishna district.According to the Department of Cultural Affairs Chief Secretary S Challappa, Chief Minister K Rosaiah will formally inaugurate the Kuchipudi dance festival on Jan 26.Talking to newsmen on Tuesday after reviewing the arrangements for organizing the festival with officials concerned, he said 100 danseuses will perform at `Siddhendra Yogi Natya Kalapeetha’ built for the purpose.“Earlier, the festival is observed at different times of the year.

From this year onwards, the government will make arrangements to organize the Utsav as an annual event,” he stated.He said eminent artistes will be honoured for the year with the Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry Puraskar along with a cash prize of Rs 50,000 for a lifetime contribution to the cause of Kuchipudi art.The annual festival of dance is observed in the name of the mythical Siddendra Yogi - the founding father of this dance genre and the ruling deity of Kuchipudi - Devi Bala Tripura Sundari (mother goddess).The festival is held under the aegis of Department of Cultural Affairs and Akhila Bharata Kuchipudi Natya Kala Mandali.