The inauguration of Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday was a grand event that drew both praise and criticism for the Chandrababu Naidu government.
Retired IAS officer P. V. Ramesh criticised the use of the traditional tribal Dhimsa dance during the ceremony, alleging that a sacred cultural practice had been reduced to a political spectacle.
As part of the welcome programme, more than 13,000 students, women and tribal performers presented the traditional Dhimsa dance.
Prime Minister Modi later praised the performance, describing it as a reflection of Andhra Pradesh’s warm hospitality, rich cultural heritage and the enduring traditions of its tribal communities.
The event also entered the Guinness World Records after 13,000 tribal artists performed the traditional dance simultaneously at a single venue, surpassing the previous record involving nearly 11,000 performers.
Rehearsals were reportedly conducted in the presence of Guinness World Records officials before the record-setting performance.
However, Ramesh strongly objected to the way the dance was presented. In a social media post, he said Dhimsa was not merely a cultural performance meant for spectators, but a sacred ritual carrying deep spiritual significance for tribal communities.
He alleged that turning the tradition into a ceremonial welcome for political leaders amounted to the desecration of tribal culture.
Ramesh further accused the Andhra Pradesh government of reducing sacred indigenous traditions to event-management and publicity exercises funded with public money.
He also criticised the attempt to secure a Guinness World Record through the participation of thousands of tribal girls, arguing that sacred cultural traditions should not be commercialised or used for political promotion.
In his post, he called upon Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Minister Nara Lokesh to apologise, alleging that the event had hurt the sentiments of tribal communities.
He further argued that governments should prioritise improving education, healthcare, nutrition and land rights for tribal communities instead of showcasing their cultural practices at political events.
