The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday said that it had officially finalised its state emblem following the bifurcation of the state in 2014, for the creation of Telangana. The emblem was said to be inspired by art from the ancient Buddhist town of Amaravati, after which the state’s upcoming capital is also being named.
“The State Emblem is inspired by the Amaravati School of Art. It consists of a ‘Dhamma Chakka’, the ‘Wheel of Law’ embellished with a ring of triatnas (Buddhist symbol) alternating with pinnate leaves and precious stones. The three circles of decorative beads in ascending order of numbers – 48 in the inner, 118 in the middle and 148 in the outer circle. ‘Puna Ghataka’ or ‘The vase of plenty’ is at the hub of the ‘Dhamma Chakka’. It is decorated with a four banded garland on the main body with medallions and tassels. There is a braid around the thin neck and a flaring mouth,” the state’s General Administration department said in a Government Order.
The colours used in the symbol are green, red and yellow.
Earlier this year, four years after bifurcation, the residual state of Andhra Pradesh announced its state symbols.The symbols were notified by the state government's Department of Environment, Forest, Science and Technology via a Government Order (GO).
As per the GO, the state had retained blackbuck, commonly known as Krishna Jinka, as its state animal, while officials decided on rose ringed parakeet as the state bird.
The GO issued by then Principal Secretary of Environment and Forests G Anantha Ramu, also mentioned that Neem has been declared as the state tree.
After bifurcation, Andhra and Telangana also dropped water lily as their common state flower and while the former has now adopted the jasmine, the latter has gone with 'Tangidi Puvvu', which is commonly used during the Bathukamma festival.
While the Telangana government decided its state symbols by the end of 2014 itself, Andhra did so in 2018, just ahead of the date marked as 'formation day' by Telangana.