Visakha Utsav from January 24 with Sea to Sky theme

Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh has announced that the much-awaited Visakha Utsav will be organised from January 24 to February 1, with Sea to Sky as the theme for this year. Unlike earlier editions, the festival will not be confined to a single district but will be spread across Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts.

Speaking at the curtain-raiser of Visakha Utsav held at the VMRDA Children’s Arena on Tuesday, Mr. Durgesh said the festival is aimed at showcasing the cultural heritage, traditions and tourism potential of North Andhra. He said the main objective is to provide global recognition to tourism destinations across the region.

The Minister said the festival will host more than 500 cultural, artistic and tourism-related performances at about 20 venues spread across the three districts. The nine-day festivities will begin with a grand inaugural ceremony in Visakhapatnam and conclude with a colourful closing event in Anakapalli district. He added that local artistes will be given top priority to showcase their talent.

Sources in the district administration said prominent locations such as RK Beach, Rushikonda Beach, Sagar Nagar Beach, Bheemunipatnam Beach, MGM Grounds, AU Engineering College Grounds and VMRDA Central Park have been finalised to host events in the city. Events are also being planned in Anakapalli district and the scenic Araku Valley in Alluri Sitharama Raju district.

Among the venues, RK Beach will serve as the main hub throughout the nine days. It will feature sports and amusement zones, food and commercial stalls, arts and crafts stalls, beach games, recreational activities and shacks. A drone show is planned on multiple days, including the inaugural day on January 24. Live music concerts by popular singers such as Smita, Ram Miryala, Monali Thakur, Javed Ali and Shwetha Mohan are tentatively scheduled. Cultural programmes will be organised daily at the venue, with opportunities for local talent to perform.

MGM Grounds will host flagship installations, themed photo booths, a children’s amusement area and a variety of food stalls, making it a family-friendly destination. Rushikonda Beach will offer adventure activities such as water sports and helicopter rides, expected to be major attractions.

The authorities have also proposed rangoli competitions for women at the AU Engineering College Grounds. The popular flower show will continue at VMRDA Central Park. Boat races are planned at Bheemunipatnam Beach, while a special cooking competition is proposed in the city to provide women a platform to showcase traditional recipes and culinary skills.