Indian Lighthouse Festival opens in Visakhapatnam
The Indian Lighthouse Festival opened in Visakhapatnam on Friday with its third edition, with former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu as the chief guest and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal joining him. The two-day event is being held at MGM Park to promote lighthouse tourism and celebrate coastal culture.
Speaking at the venue, Mr. Naidu said lighthouse tourism can strengthen ties with the tourism sector and boost economic activity in coastal areas. He said the festival’s carnival-style format, with cultural programmes and night illumination of lighthouses, brings local traditions into focus. He added that Andhra Pradesh has developed 10 of its 17 lighthouses for tourism promotion.
Mr. Sonowal said the government is developing lighthouses as “vibrant centres of tourism, culture and local enterprise” by involving coastal communities. He said the initiative can create jobs, support local businesses, and preserve India’s maritime heritage.
Organisers said more than 3,500 people visited the festival on Day 1. Cultural performances, exhibitions, and interactive zones drew large crowds along the Vizag coast. The festival also offers local cuisine, art and craft markets, theatre and dance shows, family activity zones, and coastal delicacies.
The inaugural night featured a Kuchipudi performance by Natya Sannidhaalaya led by Guru Sannidha Rajasagi. The troupe presented Kadirinrusimhudu, depicting Lord Narasimha, and later paid tribute to 150 years of Vande Mataram. The performance unfolded against illuminated lighthouses along the coastline.
Over 40 self-help group stalls from across Andhra Pradesh added to the festival’s buzz. They displayed handcrafted products, indigenous items, and regional coastal food, with organisers highlighting women-led entrepreneurship as a key attraction.
The festival also brought in folk dance presentations from North East India. Performers showcased styles associated with Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Assam.