— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

PAYING TRIBUTES: Members of Annamaya Aradhana Samithi taking out a nagar kirtan to mark the 599th birth anniversary of Tallapaka Annamayacharyulu in Berhampur on Wednesday.

BERHAMPUR: The 599th birth anniversary of Telugu poet and saint Annamayya was celebrated in the city on Wednesday.

Led by the honorary president of the Annamayya Aradhana Samiti of the city, I. Subhalakshmi, devotees of Annamayya and singers of his lyrics took out a Nagar Sankirtan procession. They also garlanded and worshiped the statue of Annamayya at Venkateswara temple. The Nagar Sankirtan culminated at the Kanyaka Parameswari temple.

The programmes at the Kanyaka Parameswari temple started from morning and it continued till late evening. At the meeting organised in memory of the poet speakers like T. Rajeswari, R. Surabbai, A. Jagannath Verma described the life and times of Annamayya and the relevance of his writings in present world.

Long vocal music session started after the meeting. Led by classical vocal gurus like M.K. Rao and V. Vibrahmam singers of all ages sang bhajans written by Annamayya. The recital bhajans continued till afternoon.

Cultural impact

The evening session included cultural programmes based on writings of the great poet. Lecturer of Music from the Tirupati Devasthanam University, L. Jayram, spoke on the impact of Annamayya's writings on Telugu literature and culture.

According to the president of Annamayya Aradhana Samiti, A.J. Verma, the culture department of Andhra government and an organisation named Silicon Andhra of USA had sponsored the celerations in memory of the great poet in the city.

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