Infosys Foundation Anupu Fest begins tomorrow

A three-day cultural festival organised by Infosys Foundation is set to kick off tomorrow at Anupu, a highly significant archaeological site near Nagarjuna Sagar dam in Andhra Pradesh.
Located on the banks of Krishna river near the dam, Anupu is an archaeological wonder of Buddhist learning and culture dating back to the third century.
"It is not just a tourist destination; it is a historic walk into an ancient seat of Mahayana Buddhism in South India," a release from Infosys Foundation stated here today.
The Infosys Foundation Anupu Festival 2016 will be inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief MinisterN Chandrababu Naiduin the presence ofSudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation.

Discovered during the construction of the dam, the ruins of the ancient Buddhist centre were unearthed, "literally throwing up a place of marvellous architectural interest, complete with a Vihara (Buddhist university), Harati temple and a large amphitheatre," the release said.
Anupu was painstakingly reconstructed by the Archaeological Survey of India, thus bringing to life the 80 hectares of the site as a historical and cultural world monument of Buddhism.

The festival is a celebration of India's rich Buddhist heritage, where the ancient monument would witness traditional performing arts events being performed, it said.
"Centred geographically, linguistically, and culturally in the Andhra region, the festival will focus on folk arts, theatre, and classical dance and music drawn from there, with special emphasis on folk forms, their colour, vibrancy, and their very sustenance factored in," as per the release.

Infosys Foundation has been supporting activities connected to art to keep alive India's cultural heritage and diversity.
A recent effort has been the reconstruction of ancient monuments and bringing them alive through traditional performing and visual arts festivals.
The first such unique festival was held in March this year, at Lakshmeshwara in Gadag district of Karnataka, itadded.