CHENNAI: Come March a cultural festival will be organised for the first time by the Singapore Telugu Samajam for Telugus in the city-State.

The three-day Singapore Telugu Cultural Festival will feature drama, art, music, poetry fest and literary programmes to promote Telugu heritage and culture among Singaporeans.

V. Satyamurthy, the Samajam's president, said the festival would be held in March 2006 with about 60 artists participating from India. Eminent artists such as M. Balamuralikrishna, actor Chiranjeevi and artist Bapu were expected to participate in the festival.

The festival would promote dying Andhra Pradesh folk arts such as `Tholubommalatta' (puppet show). Visitors will get to learn traditional games such as `Dhonga police' (hide and seek) and `Ashta Chamma' (game played with five stones).

About 2,000 visitors are expected for the festival, which would charge an entry fee of Rs. 2,500. The Samajam, along with the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce would host a business seminar, "Destination A.P.," Mr. Satyamurthy said.

Special arrangements for travel and accommodation would be made for visitors from India. The Samajam has 3,000 members, which was about 30 per cent of the Telugu population in Singapore.

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