Andhra Pradesh today is bustling with events. From cultural festivals to grand celebrations, these programmes are being generously funded and promoted by the state government.
On the surface, they appear festive and vibrant, but beneath that gloss lies a troubling reality.
These events are increasingly being used to divert public attention away from governance failures, unmet promises and unresolved public grievances.
Whether it is Yoga Day, Sankranthi Kodi Pandelu, Amaravati–Avakai, Gandikota Utsavalu, Vijayawada Utsavalu, Beach Festivals, or Vizag Utsavalu, all of them are backed by Andhra Pradesh government funding.
The biggest beneficiaries of this extravaganza are event management companies and a select few intermediaries, while ordinary citizens are kept in a state of manufactured distraction. Public money is spent lavishly, yet public accountability remains missing.
Anyone who questions the necessity or scale of these events is quickly branded as “anti-Telugu” or “anti-culture.” Constructive criticism is silenced by emotional labels, leaving little room for democratic debate.
Take Kodi Pandelu as an example. Hundreds of crores were reportedly exchanged under the direct patronage of local political leaders.
It is worth recalling how TDP leaders once questioned a YCP leader over casino-style gambling events. Today, one must ask; how is the current government’s approach any different?
Yes, events and cultural celebrations are important. They are part of our identity and social fabric. But they should not come at the cost of development, welfare, and transparent governance.
Spending hundreds of crores on such spectacles may keep event management companies happy, but what about the common citizen?
Festivals should celebrate culture, not conceal failures. Governance should focus on people’s needs, not on distractions designed to mask shortcomings.