The cultural richness of Telangana was on display at the official Independence Day celebrations on the lawns of Rani Mahal inside Golconda fort.
Troupes from various parts of Telangana, colourfully dressed in different attire, stood atop the remains and attracted the gathering. They were also seen performing before and after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s speech.
Mr. Rao gave away mementos to a select few who were honoured on the occasion. They included B. Venkataramana Chary, who sculpted the statue of Telangana Thalli for installation at the office of Telangana Rashtra Samithi, but gained wide currency subsequently, so much so that it has come to be recognised by all Telangana-based organisations. Mr. Chary told media persons that he drew inspiration from Mr. Rao’s words questioning the existence of Telugu Thalli in Telangana. He was motivated to design the embodiment of a traditional woman belonging to Telangana. The picture did not impress Mr. Rao as it lacked devotional appeal in the sense of Bharat Maata. Hence, he redesigned the model with a crown on the head and Batukamma in the left hand and maize corn in the right hand.
