Come Dussehra festival every year, the talk of the town in Telangana is, not just Bathukamma floral celebrations which are unique to the region, but also the “Alai Balai” celebrations, traditionally held the day after Dussehra by former Haryana governor and veteran leader Bandaru Dattatreya.
Every political leader, irrespective of their political affiliation, and celebrities, besides journalists, look forward to taking part in Alai Balai programme of Dattatreya.
The event has turned into a unique cultural gathering that transcends political and social boundaries.
Dattareya makes it a point to invite everyone personally well in advance requesting them to join the bonhomie. This year, the legacy was carried forward by Dattatreya’s daughter, Vijayalakshmi. The event was held with grandeur at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds in Hyderabad.
Among the dignitaries present were former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, State Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and several eminent personalities from both Telugu states. Thousands of people also joined the celebrations.
The feast was one of the highlights of the event, with organisers preparing an extravagant menu of 86 different dishes.
About 4,000 kilos of chicken curry and fry, 1,200 kilos of mutton curry and fry, along with prawns, fish curries, and vegetarian varieties were served to nearly 8,000 guests.
Cultural performances by 400 artists entertained the crowd. Actor Brahmanandam remarked that Alai Balai symbolised affectionate embrace, tracing its origins back to Lord Rama’s embrace of Hanuman.
Actor Nagarjuna praised Dattatreya for hosting the event since 2005 beyond political lines, calling it a celebration of unity and trust.
