Hyderabad, June 30: Ministers J Geeta Reddy and N Raghuveera Reddy wanted the the 500th coronation ceremony of Sri Krishnadevaraya to be celebrated on a grand scale.
They addressed the district collectors through video conference here today.
The celebrations would be held in 10 districts including Hyderabad.
The month-long festivities would begin on July 5 and end on August 8.
The inaugural function, which would be attended by President Pratibha Patil, would be held in Hyderabad for three days and the concluding programme would be held on August 8 at Penukonda in Anantapur district, which was the second capital of Sri Krishnadevaraya.
Addressing the collectors, Geeta Reddy stated that the inaugural and concluding ceremonies would be held for two days in other districts.
She wanted the MPs, MLAs, MLCs, local public representatives, men of letters, historians and other prominent people should be made part of the programme.
The minister said that a Ratham (chariot) was being prepared for the occasion by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam which would visit the districts where the celebrations were being held and wanted the collectors to make use of it.
She directed the collectors to involve folk artistes in a big way and take out colourful processions in the districts.
Agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy said a structure would be built at Penukonda to mark the celebrations.
He said that Krishnadevaraya was a good administrator and had implemented various welfare programmes during his rule.
Raghuveera Reddy said that a souvenir would be released on the occasion in Hyderabad. The minister instructed the officials not to confine only to inaugural and concluding ceremonies but to take up other activities such as essay writing and elocution competitions for students on the occasion.
Union ministers Ambika Soni and Sushilkumar Shinde will attend the programmes, he said.
–Agencies