NORWALK, CA – The Telugu community came in large numbers to attend the Ugadi celebratory event organized by the Telugu Association of Southern California’s (TASC) on March 20 at the Excelsior school auditorium here. Sounds of Telegu was everywhere as participants swarmed into the hall to enjoy the entertainment after consuming a tasty dinner served on the grounds.

The program was totally conducted in Telugu with not even a single word of English being used by the speakers, the presenters and even the several children who performed on the stage. It was a clear indication that the community is serious about making sure the language continues to flourish into the coming generations.With a packed agenda of exciting cultural fare, the organizers kept the formalities to the minimum and speakers were graciously brief so that the time could be fully utilized for the children of the community to showcase their talent and to let the huge turn out have its fill of the professional entertainment by eminent artists specially gathered for the function.

The celebrations opened with a welcome by Cultural Secretary Prasad Rani and was joined by the two others in the cultural committee , Suvarsha Kamarsu and Monica Rani as emcees of the event.

The chief guest at the event was the popular film and music director and writer Dr S V Krishna Reddy who light the inaugural lamp and later spoke a few words greeting everyone on the new year. Presenting a plaque to the icon on behalf of TASC, Gummadi Dharma Reddy paid tribute to him stating that through the years Krishna Reddy had done the community proud by producing clean family style entertainment without troubling the censors to ever reach out for the scissors! In conclusion just before the curtain came down President of the Association Bharathi Pinninty thanked one and all.

After an invocation by Malladi Narasimha Siddhanti tiny tots and pre and early teen children led the entertainment much to the thrill of beaming parents, relatives and friends who screamed and cheered their offspring all the way. Items included classical,light , folk and Tollywood medley dances, chanting of stotrams, a skit, a keyboard duet and a tribute to Bharata Maata .

Once the dust had settled and the parents sank back in their seats the scene shifted to entertainment from Tollywood. From the east coast the bubbly Usha, who goes by her single name and the energetic Viswa Mohan thrilled the crowd , first in solos and later in duets with romantic, folk and modern melodies out of popular Telugu movies. So compelling was the rhythm that it was not long before the space in front of the stage was filled with kids dancing to the pounding beat. It provided the perfect setting for Saxophonist Ramesh Maraj to make his appearance who opened his performance playing Pied Piper among the kids. The Bharatha Natyam recital by Kasi Aysola was a sparkling performance by the 18 year old winner of the YoungArts 2010 Level 2 Award. In a short 15 minute rendition he encapsulated the essence of the classical dance style which climaxed with scintillating footwork.