ATLANTA, Georgia: American Telugu Association’s 12th Conference and Youth Convention concluded its three-day event here on July 8 on a very high note with a scintillating and exhilarating music concert by Thaman Group, keeping the audience of over 8,000 people mesmerized.
The other programs beginning from opening night of Banquet Dinner through the concluding night were equally enthralling. The prestigious awards ceremony followed by actress Hansa Nandini’s dance was out of this world. The banquet dinner was attended by over 3500 people in a jam packed and specially decorated Murphy Ballroom in Georgia World Congress Center. The audience included union and state ministers, political leaders, sportsmen, Tollywood stars etc.
The music performance by US talent followed by Bhuvana Kruthi, a child protégé and popular singers Revanth and Vijayalakshmi from Andhra Pradesh
was a teaser to the audience to keep guessing as to what was in store for the next two days. While parents were enjoying the Banquet night, youth started the conference kick‐off with a 5-hour cruise.
The Inaugural day opening ceremony was a sight to watch with lighting the lamp, singing national anthems, Swagatha Geetham song followed by an Inaugural theme dance in praise of Telugu heritage.
Swamy Chidatmananda from Chinmaya Mission, chief guest Pallam Raju, Union Minister of State for Defense, State Ministers DK Aruna, Sriddhar Babu, TV9 fame Ravi Prakash, and other guests addressed the audience.
Eminent speakers at all seminars including business, women, political and NRI forums, spiritual sessions and “Encounter with Ravi Prakash” etc were attended by hundreds of people filling the rooms on both days. Singles Meet was another highlight of the conference. The singing and dance competitions were
equally entertaining.
The Avadhanam by Garikipati Narasimha Rao Garu was hailed as one of the best ever at any of the conferences in America and was attended by a few thousand people.
ATA life time achievement award was given to Sri. Vempati Chinnasatyam garu in recognition for his contribution to the Kuchipudi Nritya art and for keeping alive an old art which is now passed on to a new generation of Americans of Telugu origin. He was felicitated in Chennai during the prime time with a live telecast. It was an honor for ATA that Sri. Chinnasatyam garu accepted this award. Dr. Shobha Naidu, a disciple of Sri. Chinnasatyam was felicitated for her contribution to Kuchpudi Nritya.
ATA’s Philanthropist award was given to Dr. Hanimireddy Lakkireddy who has been in the forefront of helping those in need and continually striving to improve quality of life of people living here in USA and in Andhra Pradesh.
The food provided by Sawgath Group headed by Jayaram Komati was a delight to all and everyone had a compliment for the taste and service. The audio/video arrangements on the main stage and all across the meeting halls was superb thanks to ByteGraph Creations owned by Prashanth. Prashanth redefined the quality to set a higher standard. Thanks are due to both Prashanth and Jayaram.
The cultural programs presented during prime time on both days were spectacular. Dil Raju and Vamshi Paidipalli of Tollywood were amazed with the quality of performances and complimented ATA for promoting and encouraging amateur artists and choreographers. The mimicry by Jithendra Nath and comedy by AVS, Venumadhav, Gundu Hanmanth Rao, Hema, Srinivas
Reddy, Gowtham Raju were well received by the audience.
ATA felicitated political leaders from all over Andhra Pradesh who took the time to attend the conference.
ATA also thanked Ileana D’Cruz for coming to the conference and for being a an active participant in the Tollywood Meet & Greet program where the audience had an opportunity to question her, Vamshi and AVS
group in an open forum.
Thanks are also due to former Indian Cricket Captain and present member of Parliament Mohammad Azharuddin who took time from his busy schedule to attend the conference.
ATA could attract more than 130 vendors who exhibited booths at this conference and provided an opportunity for the attendees to shop to their heart’s content.
India Post News Service
