Boston 20 April 2008
A pleasant and warm spring day was essential for a large celebration like Sarvadhari Nama Samvatsara Ugadhi. A long awaited spring welcomed Boston and so did Ugadhi celebrations to Telugu people of Boston. More than 1000 people gathered at Marlboro Middle School Auditorium on 19th April 2008. The guests were welcomed with traditional Ugadi Pachadi at the entrance. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the bustling and exciting Telugu culture. The 1000 plus crowd was sprinkled with colorful Saris and small children in various exotic costumes. The excitement and happiness was written on the faces of both young and old. The celebrations, the skits and children enacted song-dance sequences all bundled together, made the year long wait, worth full. It would be an understatement if we say that the Ugadhi celebrations more than lived up to what we normally term as "celebrations".
TAGB President Dr. Surya Jayanthi opened the celebration with sweet and melodious state song "Maa telugu thalliki" , beautifully sung by Mrs.Padma Valli. The song written by Sankarambadi Sundarachari still touches our hearts and sends us on a journey to the depths of our innermost memories that define our own identities. Following the song the program was taken over by the MC’s Sri Rama Garikapati, Kumari Manasa Lakshmi, Kumari Sowmya Chari and Chi. Varun. This was followed by the welcome song and prayers. The program moved on to classical realm, with astonishing performances. Be it a classical dance show on Pushpanjali or a dance bit on Annamaachaarya Keerthana, they were spellbinding. After a marvelous rendetion on Lingashtakam and a classical showcase of Muddugare Yashoda, there wakes panchanga sravanam by the well known technocrat and astrology pundit, Sri. Pingali Venkata Narsihma Rao. The comedy shows followed that had the audience in splits. The film song-dance sequences started of with a group of small 3-4 yr olds enacting for the song "Telugu Basha Thiyadanam". The film song sequences that followed had the audiences on their feet, cheering and dancing. The programme reflects the patterns in our telugu society and the sensibilities that have metamorphed. It gives us a chance to celebrate the diversity and the openness that forms the very basis of Telugu culture and arts.
The celebration was graced by the honorable writer, National Award, Athreya Manaswani Award winner Sri Suddala AshoTeja as the chief guest, introduced by Sri Rama Garikapathi in a poetic fashion. The overwhelming response of the audience was observed with frequent and loud applause. The National award winner sang several songs that were written on themes like motherland (Palletooru), Kanna Talli, roots of Telugu songs (pani-pata), wife and youth. The song about the Lambadi mother who feeds the baby with ‘kallu’ instead of milk, not to let the baby get up and cry when she goes out to work, left all women with tears in their eyes. There is no exaggeration in saying that all classes of audience were mesmerized by his songs sung with his own tunes. On behalf of the TAGB, along with other Office Bearers Dr.Murthy Kanneganti, Taranath Yarabothu, Koteswar Rao Kandukuri and Krishnamurthy Naidu, President Dr. Surya Jayanthi, awarded the title “Madhura Geya Kavi” along with a Plaque. TANA Treasurer Sri Nannapaneni Mohan recalled a past situation where one of the mothers in the audience was in tears when she heard one of Ashok Teja's poetry recitals. Board Of Trustee Dr. Dasari Ammani also, mentioned that she had to wipe her tears after listening to one of his heart wrenching songs. So was the case with the audience. Before leaving the stage, he gave a strong message to the youth to setting and achieves their goals.
On behalf of the TAGB Committee and Office Bearers, President Dr. Surya Jayanthi expressed the Vote of Thanks to the audience who witnessed the grand celebrations, all the performers, the parents, the Choreographers, and the tired less Volunteers, who worked for the success of the “Sarvadhaari Ugadhi Celebrations”. During the show the community. feasted on an authentic telugu dinner provided by Minerva Indian Cuisine (Norwood, MA). TAGB also thanked the generous sponsors: Smt & Sri Prakash Reddy garu (Minerva Indian Cuisine), Smt. & Sri Ramesh Jangareddi garu (VIGIBOSS, Inc.), Smt & Sri Kalluri Gopal(CGI Consulting Services), Smt & Sri Ramalingeswara Rao Punukollu garu (P & S Inc), & Dr. Bhavani Shankar Kodali garu, Smt & Sri Danthluri Jagadeesh garu (DRR Housing & Estates, Aurora, IL), Mr & Mrs Andrew Mass (Chase Home Finanace) with out whom the show couldn’t have happened. The Sarvadhaari celebrations came to a grand total of 7 hours and was concluded with National Anthem “Jana-Gana-Mana”.
