Bay Area Telugu Association Hosts Ugadi Sambaralu Celebration
The Bay Area Telugu Association recently hosted a virtual Ugadi Sambaralu celebration. The annual event featured several live performances and talent shows by local Indian Americans. (photo provided)
India-West Staff Reporter
The Bay Area Telugu Association recently hosted its annual flagship event, the celebration of Ugadi Sambaralu. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was held online this year.
The event, which started at 1:00 p.m. with a youth talent show, comprised of dances, songs and other special talents. Cultural programs continued until 9 p.m.
There was an overwhelming response to the competitions this year, said the organization. Over 100-plus kids, teens and adults enthusiastically participated in classical, folk/film singing, dancing and special talent, it said.
The main cultural program started at 5 pm. Vijaya Aasuri, BATA advisor, warmly welcomed all the guests.
Highlights of the program included Panchanga Sravanam and Asirvathanam by priests from Aaswalayana Rug Veda Parishad; “Ananda Bhairavi,” a classical dance program featuring students of Guru Hima Bindu Challa and Guru Sri Vidya Daita; piano performance by Lydia Kotlova; “Nava Tarangam,” dances by BATA youth team; and
“Kushi Kushiga,” a standup comedy show by popular comedian Syama Harini.
The evening also featured a live music concert by Tollywood singer Sri Krishna.
Krishna recalled his fond memories of performing in the San Francisco Bay Area with legendary S.P. Bala Subrahmanyam – who died of Covid in 2020 – and also paid tribute to the late singer with a medley of his hits and other recent Tollywood hits.
BATA president Yaswanth Kudaravalli thanked the participants and volunteers for making this yet another grand event.
Kudaravalli introduced BATA’s executive committee for 2021-2022: Harinath Chikoti, president; Kondal Rao Komaragiri, vice president; Arun Janga, Varun Mukka and Siva Kada.
The steering committee includes Ravi Thiruveedula, Kamesh Malla, Yashwant Kudaravalli and Sumanth Pusuluri. Cultural directors include Sridevi Pasupuleti, Srilu Veligeti, Taraka Deepti and Sireesha Battula. Nominated committee consists of Hari Sannidi, Suresh Sivapuram, Sarath Polavarapu and Sanketh Kasupa.
A new youth committee was also announced – Sandeep Reddy, Aditya Nerusula, Uday Govindarujulu and Harish Buddiga.
In the end, the advisory board of BATA – Jayaram Komati, Vijaya Aasuri, Veeru Vuppala, Prasad Mangina, Karun Veligeti, Ramesh Konda and Kalyan Kattamuri congratulated the team for making the program a grand success.
Chikoti thanked the BATA team for entrusting him with the responsibility and mentioned that he will work closely with all the team members in planning for the 50th anniversary of BATA, which is planned for Ugadi 2022.