Bay Area Telugu Association Celebrates Diwali With Music And Dance

India-West Staff Reporter

MILPITAS, CA – The Bay Area Telugu Association (BATA) celebrated the festival of lights, Deepavali, with community spirit. The celebration brought together hundreds of Telugu families from across the Bay Area for an evening of cultural performances, music, and festivity.

The highlight of the evening was a mesmerizing mridangam concert by the legendary Padma Shri Dr. Yella Venkateshwara Rao, whose energetic performance at over 80 years of age drew a standing ovation from the audience. The BATA committee honored him with a shawl in recognition of his lifetime contributions to music.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, more than 100 children and youth took part in colorful, foot-tapping dance performances that showcased Telugu culture and creativity.

Earlier,  India’s Consul General in San Francisco, Dr. Srikar Reddy, lit the ceremonial lamp to mark the start of the celebration. The event was also broadcast live at Times Square in New York, connecting the Bay Area celebration to a wider audience.

The venue featured a vibrant display of vendor booths offering clothing, jewelry, real estate, financial, educational, and healthcare services.

BATA President Siva Kada extended heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, performers, and sponsors who made the event a success, calling it a proud moment of unity and joy for the Telugu community in the Bay Area.