Sri Rama Navami Cultural Festival has a unique place in the cultural horizon of the twin cities. It may not be an exaggeration if we say that this is the only platform for Upanyasams and Tamil Literary Discourses in the twin cities. The annual programmes conducted around Sri Rama Navami time, include cultural programmes, Iyal-Isai-Nadagam, with an occasional dash of folklore.
In 1958, Sri Subasri, a young energetic ‘Railwayman’, then aged 31, had just shifted from Bombay to Secunderabad. His wife Smt. Sripriya and he were well known short story writers in Tamil. Sri Subasri, who served as the Secretary of Bombay Tamil Sangam, was inspired to start the Sri Rama Navami Cultural Festival with the help of a few elders in the twin cities.
Sri Rama Navami Cultural Festival had its humble debut in 1962 with “Three days with Lord Sri Rama” at what was then called Muthanna Compound opposite to Keyes High School. Along with friends, Subasri himself performed Bharathiar’s Panchali Sabadham, as a Villupattu. Sri Rama Navmi then picked Keyes High School for Girls as the venue from the scond year, and ever since the school emerged as the epicenter of all cultural activities.
By 1970 Rama Navami began to fly. More variety of programmes were added and the number of days of celebrations got longer. The formation of South Central Railway zone in 1966, and location of public sector undertakings like BHEL, HAL, IDPL, HMT, contributed to the increase of Tamil population. In the process swelling the target audience of Sri Rama Navami.
The guiding philosophy for Rama Navami since year one, according to Sri Subasri has been – The best programmes, at no cost or low cost to the audience/bhakthas. For more than fifty years now, Rama Navami programmes begin everyday with Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam, on stage. Puja through Laksharchana has also been a part to Rama Navami celebrations since 1962. Other highlights of this festival include – Annadanam, Manjal Kumkum and honouring vedic pundits every year.
Today Sri Rama Navami celebrations has grown into an important Institution in the twin cities. Rama Navami programmes bring the Indian Culture and Epics through the colourful panorama of Music, Discourse and Lectures. The festival always presents the best speakers, who share their knowledge and expertise, on a variety of subjects, which has earned for the Festival, recognition, appreciation and well merited support of the audience of the twin cities.