Kondapalli toys mela evokes good response with heritage carnival attraction

Vijayawada: The three-day Kondapalli Toys Mela, which is underway at Kondapalli, has been evoking good response, with stalls abuzz with visitors on Sunday. The NTR district administration, in tandem with the tourism department, commenced the three-day toys festival aimed at taking forward the rich legacy of the 400-year-old Kondapalli handicrafts tradition.A major attraction of the second day was the Mega Heritage Carnival, where nearly 250 artists and traditional artisans came together to showcase their talent. Visitors were treated to an array of folk performances, including Dappu, Puliveshalu, Tappetagullu, Thinsa, Garagalu and Keelu Gurralu, creating a festive atmosphere at the venue.Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), who attended the event, said the festival aims to revive and promote the 400-year-old Kondapalli toy craft while ensuring better livelihood opportunities for artisans. He noted that efforts are underway to preserve this heritage and pass it on to future generations.Highlighting tourism potential, he added that the govt is preparing a focused plan to develop Kondapalli Fort into a major attraction, given its strategic location near the capital region.Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Venkata Krishna Prasad described Kondapalli toys as a symbol of cultural pride and said the festival is aimed at taking this legacy to a global platform. He also revealed plans to introduce a laser show at the historic fort to further enhance its tourist appeal.AP State Creative and Culture Commission chairperson Tejaswi Podapati said that the three-day Kondapalli Toys Mela initiative aligns with the govt's vision of branding Kondapalli toys as a global heritage product. She added that a dedicated experience centre has been set up to give visitors an immersive understanding of the craft.