HYDERABAD: The European Telugu Association (ETA), promoting Telugu language and culture in Europe, will organise a threeday celebration of saint-compose Tallapaka Annamacharya’s 600th birthday from October 9.
Announcing the programme in the city on Tuesday, RV Ramana Murthy, India coordinator of ETA, said a day-long spiritual programme would be held at Sri Balaji temple in Birmigham, UK, on Oct 9. It will be the first time that such a big Telugu event will be taking place in the United Kingdom. “We are planning to invite the British prime Minister to the event and enlighten him on the greatness of Telugu culture. The celebration will be held in collaboration with the the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams.
Many TTD members including its chairman DK Adikesavulu Naidu will participate,’’ Murthy said.
The events on October 10 and 11 will be held at the Kings Hall, Stoke-On Trent, West Midlands. The programmes on Oct 10 include garlanding of the Telugu Talli statue, inauguration of a photo exhibition and rendering of Annamayya kirtanas. On Oct 11, film music awards will be given away. The Best Music Director award will be given to Chakri and the Best Lyricist award to Bhaskarabhotla. Awards will also be given in classical music.
Pavan K, treasurer of ETA, said, “The organisation has been working tirelessly for 18 years for the welfare of Telugu people and their culture. After the United States, the United Kingdom has the highest number of Telugu people,’’ he said.