IGNCA Inaugurates Its Tenth Regional Centre in Tirupati, Strengthening India’s Cultural Heritage Preservation

Tirupati: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) marked a major milestone in the preservation and promotion of India’s artistic and cultural heritage with the inauguration of its tenth Regional Centre in Tirupati. Established in collaboration with the National Sanskrit University, Tirupati, the new centre is envisioned as a hub for research, documentation, and dissemination of Vaishnava Agama and other architectural traditions of India, while also engaging with the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, an eminent Bharatanatyam exponent and scholar, as the Chief Guest. Also present were Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, and Prof. G.S.R. Krishna Murthy, Vice Chancellor of the National Sanskrit University. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan extended his best wishes, congratulating IGNCA on its expansion and commitment to fostering cultural scholarship.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam described the Tirupati centre as the “tenth arm” of IGNCA, reinforcing its role in decentralizing and efficiently managing cultural documentation and research. She praised IGNCA’s ongoing efforts to uphold its mission of preserving and promoting India’s diverse artistic traditions.

Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the launch, highlighting IGNCA’s role as a premier repository of Indian art and culture. He emphasized the centre’s commitment to documenting Shastriya traditions, folk and tribal art forms, manuscripts, and visual arts. Calling attention to ‘Andhra Natyam,’ a traditional dance form of Andhra Pradesh, he urged scholars to undertake focused studies on its evolution. He also noted the region’s artistic heritage, including Pochampally toys, and how modern technologies are being integrated at the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design’ to help artisans sustain their crafts while balancing tradition and innovation.

Dr. Joshi further outlined IGNCA’s contributions to national cultural initiatives, such as its role in creating artwork for the New Parliament and the installation of the Ashtadhatu Nataraja sculpture at Bharat Mandapam, the tallest of its kind in the world. With over 600 publications, including the distinguished journal Kalakalpa, IGNCA continues to expand its reach in the field of arts and culture. The Tirupati centre joins IGNCA’s network of regional centres, including Thrissur, Vadodara, Goa, and Varanasi, each specializing in different aspects of India’s cultural and intellectual traditions.