As we know Deepavali is one of the flagship events TAS celebrates every year in Scotland with all Telugu families, friends and well-wishers together.

Because of the current restrictions due to COVID-19 in the UK, the TAS Deepavali celebration this year was held on Virtual Media (ZOOM, Facebook Live) on 15th November 2020 Sunday started from 1 pm onwards (UK time).

Around 2.6k people watched the event so far staying at their homes.Around 2.6k people watched the event so far staying at their homes.

Highlights of this year:Highlights of this year:

• The event began with a blaze of flame lighten by General Secretary Mr. Uday Kuchadi and the prayer by IT & Public Relations Secretary Mr. Vijay Kumar Parri.
• Tollywood singers duo Harini Ivaturi and Sai Charan Bhaskaruni performed various Telugu hit tracks of 1980s till 2020. Madhulika anchored the event.
• Around 20 participants from Scotland (classical dances, classical songs, movie dances, movie songs) performed outstandingly.

Chief Guest Speech:

South Indian Star and versatile cine actor Mr. Sai Kumar attended the event as the honourable chief guest. Mr. Vijay Kumar Parri welcomed Sri. Sai Kumar with an extraordinary welcome speech about him, mentioning about his awards and rewards.Mr. Sai Kumar has given a power packed speech, while wishing everyone a happy Deepavali. His appreciation to the participants is something highly commendable. He has shared his life journey, his Diwali stories from childhood, his interest towards Telugu language, his movie journey etc. (Full event is in the link at the end.)

TAS Executives:

• TAS Cultural Secretary Mr. Niranjan Nooka mentioned TAS continued to engage people from the past 8 months even in the lockdown and TAS is first to start online events that are still running continuously that’s keeping people entertained.
• TAS President Mr. Siva Chimpiri expressed his wishes addressing Telugu people all over Scotland. He also conveyed his thanks to Sai Kumar garu for his gracious presence. He also mentioned TAS has taken various initiatives during the Covid crisis to help and support people in Scotland. Many Indian students received help through TAS.
• TAS General Secretary Mr. Uday Kumar Kuchadi briefed about how TAS is performing various activities that makes TAS unique from any other organisation.
• TAS IT & PR Secretary Mr. Vijay Kumar Parri mentioned in his speech that this is the biggest event for TAS in terms of viewers count, positive feedback, publicity. He interacted with Sai Kumar to bring him to their event asthe chief guest. This is the first ever time for TAS to hold a chief guest for the entire event and make him entertained throughout. He also approached leaders of various associations within the UK and world-wide and received video messages from everyone.
• TAS Projects Secretary Mrs. Madhavilatha Danduri mentioned about the recent cycling projects and gardening projects. Also highlighted how these are being so useful for the people to gain self-confidence.
• TAS Sports Secretary Mr. Sai Chaitanya Prathipati said they are planning to organise more sports events virtually going forward.
• TAS Treasurer Mr. Venkatesh Gaddam said that they had organised such a grand scale event within the best budget.

World Telugu associations leaders expressed their Deepavali wishes:World Telugu associations leaders expressed their Deepavali wishes:

        a. Mr. Jay Talluri –President, TANA, USA

        b. Mrs. Sirisha Tunuguntla -Women’s Coordinator, TANA, USA

        c. Mr. MVV Satyanarayana –President, Andhra Kala Vedika, Qatar

        d. Mr. Madhu Byreddy –President, Sydney Telugu Association, Australia

        e. Mr. Bhargav Y –Founder, Jignasa Interface, India

        f. Mrs. Srilatha Magathala –President, New Zealand Telugu Association

        g. Mr. Nageswara Srinivas Sonti –Secretary, Andhra CulturalAssociation, Bhubaneswar, India

        h. Mrs. Manoja Rajavarapu –General Secretary, South African Telugu Association

        i. Mr. PVPC Prasad –General Secretary, Rashtrethara Telugu Samakhya, Ahmedabad, India

        j. Mr. Phanindra Lingam (President, AP Associationof South Africa) & Mrs. Indira Vemu Lingam

TAS past committee members and UK Leaders expressed Deepavali wishes to TAS members and event viewers through their video messages. Details below:

        a. Dr. Ashok Bhuvanagiri –One of Founders of TAS

        b. Mr. Satya Shyam Jayanty –Ex Committee, TAS

        c. Mrs. Himabindu Jayanty –Ex Committee, TAS

        d. Mr. Manoranjit Nagubandi –Ex Committee, TAS

        e. Mr. Sunil Devarasetty –Ex Committee, TAS

        f. Mr. Benjamin Telagalapudi –Ex Committee, TAS

        g. Mrs. Himabindu Jayanty, Mrs. Sushma Rudra, Mr. Naga Samrat Ravuri, Mr. Aditya Yembuluru –3 Good Deeds

        h. Mr. Rajnish Singh –President, Edinburgh Diwali

        i. Mr. Abhijit Chakraborty –President, Scottish Indian Arts Forum

        j. Mr. Abdul Reyaz –President, Scottish Indian Muslim Association

        k. Mr. Madhan Murugesan –Edinburgh Tamil Sangham

        l. Dr. Kiran Sachane –President, SAMRAT

        m. Mr. Harish Nagappa –Kannada Association of Scotland –Edinburgh

        n. Mr. Pravat Mallick & Family –Odisha Society of Scotland

At the end TAS General secretary Mr. Uday Kumar Kuchadi conveyed “Vote of thanks” and the event ended with Jana Gana Mana with all people in a standing ovation.

Key notes:

It was a fabulous event that ran for 5:30 hours, certainly entertaining not only UK people but also the entire world by grabbing most of the Telugu people’s attention. With this event, TAS has successfully completed a grand scale virtual event even in the pandemic time and is hoping for their next grand event UGADI 2021 to organise physically hoping all the things go well. Many people applauded and said it would be in TAS’s records forever.

Link to watch the full event: https://fb.watch/1RbtDdVAeq/

Best Regards,

Vijay Kumar Parri
IT & Public Relations,
Telugu Association of Scotland.