UGAADHI CELEBRATION (TELUGU NEW YEAR CELEBRATION)

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE OCCASION OF THE UGAADHI CELEBRATION (TELUGU NEW YEAR CELEBRATION)

 

25 March 2023
Kuil Sri Ramar, Solok York, Taman Dhoby Ghaut

YB Jagdeep Singh Deo
State Executive Councillor for Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning

YB RSN Rayer
MP for Jelutong

 

Mr. Sri Sathiah Sudakaran
Deputy President of Telugu Association of Malaysia

 

Mr. Rama Rao
Chairman of Telugu Association of Malaysia (Penang Branch)

Mr. Villanthiren
Chairman of Sri Ramar Temple

Dato’ Seri P. Kuvenarajoo
Deputy Chairman of Hindu Endowment Board, Penang

Dr. Ang Ming Chee
General Manager of George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI)

Ms Teh Su Lin and Ms Praveena
Representatives of Pesuruhjaya Warisan Negeri Pulau Pinang

 

Distinguished Guests, Media Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen

Namaskaram and Salam Sejahtera, good evening and welcome to the Heritage Ugaadhi Celebration event. It definitely feels fantastic and an honour to share this evening of merriment and celebration in the presence of so many visitors and friends from the Telugu community.

It is my privilege and pleasure to be here today to honour this incredible event that has brought us all together. This is a time of great celebration, and it is fitting that we take a moment to recognize and honour the many individuals who have made this event possible. My heartfelt congratulations to Telugu Association of Malaysia (TAM) Penang chairman, Mr Rama Rao and his dedicated team of committee members for making this meaningful event possible. Congratulations.

The Penang State Government is proud and happy to witness another rich and diverse educational and exciting Heritage Ugaadhi Celebration event which aims to expose Penangites in general to the Telugu community's culture and traditions. Hence, the celebration we are having this evening is a golden opportunity for foreign visitors and locals alike to catch a glimpse into the way of life of our Telugu community.

I strongly believe that it is our shared responsibility to preserve and conserve this invaluable living heritage, such as the Ugaadhi Festival, to ensure that our future generation can enjoy the uniqueness of many cultural events and the joy and sanctity of multiculturalism in Penang.

I would like to emphasize that our culture is our identity, and it is what makes us unique as a people. The Telugu community in Penang has a long and proud history, and they take great pride in honouring and preserving their cultural heritage celebrations. And these events are all an asset to our tourism industry and cultural development here. All of these give us the impetus to Love Penang even more.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

The Heritage Ugaadhi Celebration event that we are celebrating today is a testament to the creativity, talent, and hard work of the Telugu community. We can see that the young and promising artists from the Telugu classes are showcasing their talents, which is truly remarkable. Their dedication and passion for their craft are an inspiration to us all, and even more so for the Telugu community.

This event not only celebrates your culture, but it also brings everyone together as a community. The people here today come from different backgrounds, but share a common love for this state, Penang and our diverse heritage and cultural celebrations. This event is an opportunity for us to come together, to learn from each other, and to appreciate the diversity that makes our state so special.

As the Chief Minister, I am honoured to stand here today and to be part of this cultural event. I believe that it is our duty to support and promote our cultural heritage, and to provide opportunities for our younger generation to showcase their talents. The Penang state government will continue to support the arts and culture in our state, and to ensure that events like this continue to thrive.

Once again, I would like to congratulate the organizer, performers and participants who have made this event possible. Your hard work and dedication have made this event a great success.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for being here and may all of you open your hearts and minds to infuse all the excitement lined-up in the array of programmes for this evening.

Thank you and have a great evening.