Day: 22 April 2013

Chicago IL: On April 13, 2013, Telugu Association of Greater Chicago (TAGC) celebrated Ugadhi and Sri Rama Navami at Elgin High School, Elgin. The program kicked off with Siva Pasumarthi welcoming the audience on behalf of TAGC cultural committee followed by Annamacharya Keertana coordinated by Padamaja Krishna, and choreographed by Shruthi Das. President of TAGC, Ramesh Garapaty spoke to the audience during Presidents message and has thanked all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make the event a grand success. He released the new Telugu calendar designed by Srinivas Pedamallu with several of the famous Indian women featuring on the cover page of each month in commemoration of TAGC’s celebration of first-ever women’s day. Sri.Tammareddy Bharadwaj President of AP film chamber of commerce, movie director, producer joined as a chief guest for the evening along with Sri.ShantiSwarup who was the anchor for Doordarshan a few years ago. ATA president Sri.Karunakar Madhavaram, Narendra Chemarla, Satya Kadimalla, Srinivas Pedamallu and Kalyan Anandula joined the event to felicitate Sri.Tammareddy Bharadwaj and Sri.Shanti Swarup. On behalf of TAGC, Sri.Tammareddy honored Mimicry Ramesh Jallarapu with Dhwanyanukarana Tapasvi in recognition of his over six thousand performances across the world. Mimicry Ramesh received standing ovation for […]

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Chicago IL: Winter was mild in Chicago this year as we were hit by only a couple of heavy snow storms. To welcome spring this year by enjoying a few crispy sunny days, we took our family spring break in sunny California and Nevada area. After landing at the Los Angeles airport, overnight stay at Rancho Cucamonga was relaxing. The three-hour drive across the desert to reach Las Vegas is rewarded with great views of the scenic Angels forest, mountains, and typical desert trees. Fabulous Las Vegas—the gambling and entertainment capital of the world—welcomes millions of visitors yearly to its various attractions. Every hotel resort in this Neon City is unique in its own way. We stayed at Circus-Circus, where the kids enjoyed Adventure Dome and the famous Midway arcade with its bunch of rides and fun games. With their varied restaurants, shops, entertainment shows, and of course gambling, the resorts have something for everyone. Shows like “Mac King”, a fabulous family show, win you over with fun, laughter, and magic thrills. About three hours of driving towards west from Las Vegas takes you to the “Grand Canyon West Rim.” After just 30 miles on US 93, we stopped over […]

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Chicago IL: Tri-State Telugu Association celebrated its Ugadi and Sri Ramanavami festivities with much pomp and show on April 6th 2013 at the HTGC (Rama Temple) in Lemont, Illinois. The theme for the event was “New Beginnings” and covered Chaitramu, Ugadi, Vasanta Navaatrulu, Sri Ramanavami and Sri Sita Ramula Charitra. Sri. Raghu Angara, the Cultural Coordinator for this gala event, organized 38 creative, innovative and many unique programs in which approximately 330 kids and adults participated. The auditorium was packed with approximately 700 people. The audience was enthralled with a variety of programs ranging from skits, dances, songs and dance-dramas. The program started in the authentic Telugu cultural norm of Panchanga Sravanam by the Rama temple priest followed by the Ganesha invocation dance “Muddakaratha Modakam” choreographed by Smt. Asha Acharya Adiga. Sri. Raghu Angara always endeavors to teach the new generation kids, Indian values and the great Indian Mythology. Continuing the spirit of the evening Smt. Jayashree Tatavarti directed a skit “Mana Illu – Mana Adarshalu” which focussed on values regarding respect for parents, gurus, and guests – all of whom are equal to God. Other programs which were very well executed were Jo Jo Rama, Bhadrasaila Ramamandira, choreographed by […]

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Chicago IL: Hari Om Mandir in Medinah, Ill., celebrated Baisakhi from noon on Sunday, April 14, 2013, with bhajans. Also known as Vaisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi, the festival is celebrated across the Indian subcontinent. For Hindus, it is the start of the solar New Year, and is observed with requisite bathing, partying, and worshipping. Hindus plant poles (wrapped in flags of gold-embroidered silk) in front of their homes, and hang pots of brass, copper or silver on top. For an auspicious start to the New Year, some devotees had arrived early to have their prized possessions specially blessed with prayers performed by the temple priests. One family could be seen outside in the car park performing puja together on the bonnet of their sparkling new Lexus. Another priest was returning brand new clothes after blessings to women devotees. Tulsidas, Meera, and other classical and film bhajans were being sung continuously already from forenoon. Monica Sharma and Meghna Sharma, who had danced Bhangra just two days earlier at Asian American Awards Gala at Northeastern Illinois University, sang Bhajans at the beginning. Temple President Brij Sharma praised the two devoted sisters for being so exemplary in their contributions to Indian dance and […]

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