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.

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 the South Central Railway zone in 1966 and the location of public sector undertakings like BHEL, HAL, IDPL, and HMT contributed to the increase of the Tamil population.

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 every day with Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam, on stage. Other highlights of this festival include Annadanam, Manjal Kumkum, and honouring vedic pundits every year.