Bay Area Ugadi Event Marks 25 Years Of Youth Competitions

India-West News Desk

MILPITAS, CA – The Bay Area Telugu Association (BATA) held its annual Ugadi celebrations in Milpitas on March 21, marking the 25th year of its youth cultural competitions with participation from more than 600 children and young adults.

The day-long event, conducted from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., included the serving of traditional Ugadi pachadi. Youth competitions in singing and dance were organized across Tollywood, classical, and folk categories, with multiple halls used to accommodate participants across age groups.

An evening cultural program featured performances based on themes from 1990s Telugu cinema, with participation from children, youth, and adults. Playback singer Anjana Sowmya delivered a live musical performance during the concluding segment.

In addition to cultural programming, the event included sessions on immigration-related topics. Attorneys Navdeep Toor Meamber and Manohar T. Reddy spoke on “Protect Your Status: 2026 Immigration Updates for Professionals and Families,” while attorneys Kalpana V. Peddibhotla and Komey Vishakan led a session titled “Home and Belonging: The South Asian Future in America.”

Among those in attendance were Abhishek Sharma of the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, and Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano. Addressing attendees, Sharma commended BATA for its dedicated efforts in preserving and promoting the Telugu language and culture while maintaining its relevance among younger generations in the Bay Area.

The event also featured vendor booths representing clothing, jewelry, education, investments, and real estate services.

BATA President Siva K., addressing attendees, acknowledged and thanked the various volunteers, sponsors and participants.