Chicago Telugu festival a huge success

Telugu Festival 2015, annual conference of Chicago Telugu Association has started off with the Prardhana Song (Ganesha) performed by Veena Gayatri, Swetha Rao, Sruthi Thakur and followed by welcome address by conference coordinator Sridhar Mumgandi. The guest list includes Music Director Mr. Anup Rubens, NATS President Ravi Achanta, Popular Tollywood singers Geetha Madhuri, Revanth, Pridhvi, Jabardash Comedy team members Sudheer, Chanti, NATS Director Sridhar Kesani and former Columbus Telugu Association President Suresh, former DTA president Venu, and entrepreneur from Champaign Raja Pathuri.

Large number of Telugu families gathered at this grand event. Telugu Festival was attended by about 1400 telugu people. US Sentor Mark Kirk has sent his good wishes and message to the telugu community on this occasion. Several Tollywood Medleys were presented by Swathi, Lakshmi Laalasa and Dazzling Dudes Team Bharat Achanta, Siddharth Sai Muppavarapu, Rithvik Muvva, Arnav Thotakura, Gopi Thotakura, Yashasvi Mumgandi . Rina Rockers performed a medley. Classical Fusion composed by Anusha Naidu was well appreciated and performed by Malishka Ambati, Hanitha Sharma Puranam, Geetha Priya,Sreehamsi Koganti, Namashritha Koganti, Asritha Tunguntla, Mahitha Pamulapati and Anusha Aravind. A Jugalbandi Dance was presented by Bindya, Revathi, Sneha Ankitha,Sravanthi, Nikitha, Jaya Prada, Anusha, and Meghana Aleti. Pushpanjali a Classical Kuchipudi Dance was performed by young kids Priyanka Achanta, Tejaswi Achanta, Pranavi Polavarapu and Laasya Rangu.

CTA members paid a grand tribute to former president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. A special video on the life of Dr. Kalam was shown and audience observed a moment of silence in his honor.

Evening session started with grand welcome song ('Swagatham Palukotondi CTA Kovelaa..') specially written, composed and choreographed for Telugu Festival. Chicago Telugu Association executive members presented the brief history and activities of CTA. Conference coordinator Sridhar Mumgandi welcomed the audience and Secretary Madan Pamulapati presided the CTA hour during which CTA facilitated the outgoing president Murthy Koppaka and team.

CTA Board President Mr. Rao Achanta, lauded the services of Murthy Koppaka in strengthen the organization and also expanding service activities during his tenure. Rao Achanta introduced the new team of executive committee led by President Nagendra Vege. New Team consists of Vice Presidents Madan Pamulapati,Sujana Achanta, Venkat Yalamanchili, Sridhar Mumgandi, Secretary Subba Rao Putreveu, Joint Secretary Rajesh Veedulamudi, Treasurer Varaprasad Bodapati and Joint Treasurer Havila Devarapalli.

Founding member of CTA, Praveen Moturu briefed about the CTA's objectives, vision and how CTA is setting an example to rest of the organizations as well as serving as a role model for service activities. NATS President Ravi Achanta thanked the Chicago Telugu Community for supporting CTA and NATS and also announced that NATS Board has decided to host 2017 Sambaralu at Chicago.

Outgoing president Murthy Koppaka expressed happiness in successfully executing many programs during last years. CTA Board unanimously passed a resolution in commending the services Koppaka and also inducted him into the Board to serve on strategic initiatives. CTA thanked the representatives of various local telugu organizations who has attended the event. Program was energetically anchored by Sandeep and Uma.

New President Announces Agenda for Year Ahead
Speaking on the occasion of assuming the charge of President, Nagendra Vege announced that the focus of the CTA will be on Youth (Educaiton Mentoring), Elders (Medical Helpline), Womens (Mahila Sambaralu) and Sports. He thanked the CTA Board and members in keeping faith in him for leading the organization.

CTA Awards 2015 and Honors
Chicago Telugu Association has presented awards to winners of Sports Tournaments conducted during the summer by Rajesh Veedulamudi, Lakshmi Bojja and Shailendra Gummadi.

Top Entertainment at Telugu Festival
Evening session started with grand welcome song ('Swagatham Palukotondi CTA kovelaa.'). Tollywood music director Anup Rubens and team performed musical night for more than three hours and enthralled the audience with melodious songs. About 100 kids participated in singing Manam song along with Anup Rubens.

Noted comedians Sudheer, Chanti and Rakesh presented several comedy skits. At the end members of CTA remember and dedicated themselves for the objectives of Chicago Telugu Association. Organizing Committee of Telugu Festival was expressed their extreme happiness over the mega success of Telugu Festival.
Cultural Team led by Lohitha, Bindu Balineni, Rani Vege, Sujana, and many others successfully executed the cultural programs. Delicious Telugu dinner was served by Murali Kalagara, Venkat Yalamanchili and other members of food committee and provided by CoolMirchi restaurant. Chicago Telugu Association released a souvenir for the Telugu Festival and dedicated to former president and Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

CTA has thanked its volunteers, members and donors for their continuous support.