KADAPA, INDIA, May 3, 2008: Tallapaka village in Rajampet mandal, the birthplace of saint-lyricist Annamacharya who scripted 32,000 sankeertanas in praise of Lord Venkateswara, will be developed into a religious tourist and spiritual centre.
An Annamacharya Aradhana festival will be held with grandeur there starting next year, on the lines of Thyagaraya Aradhana festival at Tiruvayur. TTD was making all out efforts to popularise Annamacharya keerthanas, the government official said. Stating that William Shakespeare’s native village was developed as a tourist attraction the world over, Mr. Karunakar Reddy remarked that Annamacharya was a greater litterateur and said Tallapaka, his native village, would be developed as a spiritual centre on international standards. His 108-foot statue would be inaugurated during the Jayanti celebrations.
Nearly 20,000 cultural artistes and bhajan troupe members would participate in Nagara Sankeertana rally from Rajampet to Tallapaka on May 19, he said. Forty thousand devotees are expected on each day.