Hyderabad, October, 2003: Keralotsav 2003, a festival showcasing the cultural heritage of Kerala, is being held in the city from October 1 at Necklace Road, Hyderabad and will go on upto October 5. The event and the Boat Race will be flagged off by Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 2nd October at 11am. Organised by Naveena Samskarika Kala Vedi, a Malayalis cultural organization, which is a cultural wing of Naveen Samskarika Kala Kendram, the event is coordinated by Seamless Communication Ventures.

Disclosing this while addressing a press meet held at Press Club Somajiguda, Mr. G. Kishan Rao, Director of AP Tourism informed that a festival of this size and magnitude has never been tried before anywhere in the country. The Malayalees of Andhra Pradesh will create a history of sorts in Hyderabad as the city would witness the World Famous Snake Boat Race as part of the festival on the lake of Hussain Sagar. This is the first time, ever, the boat races are held outside of Kerala back waters, informed Mr. Kishan Rao. Four Snake Boats would participate in the Races with each boat being manned by 55 Oarsmen and 5 Team Leaders.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. S.D Govindan, Secretary of Naveena Samskarika Kala Kendram(NSKK) said there are a total of seventeen lakh Malayalees living in the state of Andhra Pradesh of which close to five lakh live in Hyderabad. This is the first time all the Malayalis living in Hyderabad have come together under a common umbrella to conduct this event which has a cost outlay of rupees fifty lakh.

Organised without any profit motive, the Keralotsav 2003 would also have an exhibition that will be organised in conjunction to the festival. It will showcase handicrafts, garments, consumer goods, jewellery, Kerala, Andhra and Bengali Food Festival. On display will be over thirty different art and dance forms of Kerala. This festival is being organized with the active participation of A.P and Kerala Tourism Departments, informed Mr. Govindan.

Coca Cola extends support for the event by being a branding sponsor. Thus the event will be called Coca Cola Keralotsav. Airtel will be the branding sponsor for the Boat Race.

Speaking about Naveena Samskarika Kala Kendram, Mr. Ajit Nair informed that it is a registered society and is primarily into educational activities. It runs a School and a Junior College in the name of NSKK. It also organizes lot of cultural programmes under a separate wing called Naveen Samskarika Kala Vedi, where Kerala Dance and Art Forms are imparted to all those who are interested in learning the same at no cost.

-MK
Reachout's News Bureau
October' 2003

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