Grand Nari Shakti festival commences in Vijayawada

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], October 12 (ANI): On the occasion of Durga Ashtami, the three-day Nari Shakti (women's power) programme commenced at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada on Friday.

Cultural programmes were organized with the inspiration of spirituality and women's empowerment.

Nara Bhuvaneswari, the wife of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, was the chief guest on the inaugural day and distributed Pasupu and Kumkuma on the occasion to nine women.

Addressing the gathering, she said that festivals are part of the life of everyone but Dussera is something special for women. Extending the festival greetings to Telugu people living across the globe, she said the programme is being organised at the foothold of Goddess Kanaka Durga to tell the world about the culture and traditions of the Telugu people and thanked the State Government profusely for organising such programmes.

She said that Nari Shakti is something that recognises, appreciates and encourages the power of women and prayed to the Goddess that the State should always have the blessings of the Goddess.

"Women are not only going to space but also flying fighter planes and excelling themselves as scientists. From sarpanches of panchayats to the President of India women are extending their services to society," she said. People should feel proud that a woman, Droupadi Murmu, rising to the level of the first citizen of the country, Bhuvaneswari said and stated that this is only one side of the coin.

She further emphasized the importance of women working hard to achieve empowerment.

"The other side is that women continue to face discrimination," she said.

She noted that the TDP founder, the late NT Rama Rao, deserves full credit for giving women equal property rights with males four decades ago. She stated that the late NTR had even made reservations for women in local bodies.

The other ministers also extended their wishes for the Dusshera festival. The Minister for Backward Classes (BCs), Handloom and Textiles, Savitha, extended greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh and wished that every woman in the State should prosper in all sectors. The Minister for Tourism and Cinematography, Kandula Durgesh, said that every woman is behind the survival of mankind and women are known for sacrifice and affection.

Several MLAs, MLCs, various public representatives, IAS, IPS officers, experts of various fields, and the Managing Director of Tourism, Kishore, along with the District Collector of NTR District, Dr G Srujana took part in the programme. (ANI)