NATA Sponsored Holi Celebrations in Houston

Houston, Texas, USA: This Holi season, the city of Houston in America has witnessed a lot variety when it comes to celebrating this traditional Indian festival of colors. The NATA (North American Telugu Association) has sponsored Holi celebrations in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Texas.

Houston has some of the largest Indian communities in the United States, including an estimated 15 thousand Telugu people in the metropolitan area, said Dr. Samba Reddy, Media Chair, NATA in a press statement.

The Holi celebration event was organized on March 12th by Saibaba Temple and Andhra Radio Mirchi led by Prasad Kalva. Several hundred people from all over Houston city have participated in the Holi celebrations. In a post-event message, NATA president AVN Reddy conveyed Holi greetings to all Indians in the US and back home in India.

The Telugu leaders who attended this meeting are Jithender Reddy (NATA Convener), Dr. Samba Reddy (NATA Media Chair), Harinath Medi (NATA coordinator), Manohar Medi (NATA Regional Vice-President), Prasad Kalva (Andhra Radio Mirchi), Raghu Nednur (Ex-TCA president), Rajender Apparasu (University of Houston), Rajavardhan Reddy (TV9 Houston) and other local Telugu members.

With the background DJ playing an interesting mix of Holi tracks for the people to harmonize, all age groups had Holi masti with colors and exchange of greetings. Dr. Samba Reddy conveyed NATA's greetings to all participants and congratulated children for dance program. 'Children dressed in traditional Indian attire gave excellent dance performances' said Jithender Reddy, NATA Convener. He said that the NATA convention scheduled for next year will showcase more such events with Telugu flavor.

'The city of Houston has over 40 year's history for Telugu and Indian festivals' said Harinath Medi, NATA Coordinator and a senior Telugu entrepreneur in Houston.

The NATA regional vice-president Manohar Medi said that NATA is always willing to support such Indian festivals as Holi and nurture such cultural celebrations all over the Texas and America. He greeted everyone including several children who participated in the Holi celebrations.

Some young children experienced the first Holi celebrations of their life, according to Rajender Apparasu. 'Back home in India, the festival is a community affair. Not only is it a state holiday, but everybody takes to the streets to play with colors,' says the local Telugu leader Raghu Nednur. In America, we make it convenient to celebrate at temples and community events. 'Around 300-400 people attended -- there was something for everyone' adds Prasad Kalva.