Bird watching, boating, cultural events mark inaugural day of Flamingo Festival

Fun and adventure activities added spectre to the traditional bird watching programme on the inaugural day of the three-day ‘Flamingo Festival 2026’ that began at Sullurpeta constituency in Tirupati district on Saturday.

The event commenced with the Sullurpeta MLA Nelavala Vijayasree and Collector S. Venkateswar performing ‘gau puja’ and inaugurating sporting events like volleyball and kabaddi for the local youth.

A colourful ‘Sobha Yatra’ was taken out from the national highway to the government school building, the venue of the event. Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and former Minister Parasa Ratnam attended the event. Cultural troupes including folk dancers and percussion instrumentalists turned out to be a special attraction.

Former MP Nelavala Subramanyam, ex MLC Vakati Narayana Reddy, RDO Kiranmayi, Municipal Chairman Srimanth Reddy took part.

Boating grabs attention

Visitors gathered in large numbers and enjoyed boating at Bheemulavanipalem backwaters in Tada mandal.

A large number of tourists, especially school children, turned up at the spot and enjoyed the boat ride after the government arranged free buses to location. Boats were provided free of cost for children below 15 years and those above the limit were charged ₹30 for a 30-minute ride. Similarly, the boatmen were instructed to charge ₹100 per person up to Irakam island.

Mr. Venkateswar, who visited the spot along with Trainee Collector Sandeep Raghuvanshi, interacted with the school children and learnt about their experiences at the festival.

The district administration arranged makeshift toilets, drinking water facility, lunch packets and medical camp at Sullurpeta venue, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Bheemulavanipalem boating point and the Environmental Education Centre at Atakanithippa.

The visitors also thronged the food courts and the stalls arranged by the various government departments at the main venue.