DATA celebrated annual Bathukamma and Dasara Panduga

Dallas Area Telangana Association (DATA) celebrated annual Bathukamma & Dasara Panduga in association with Telangana Jagruthi and American Telangana Association in Dallas @ Everest Ranch, McKinney TX.

A Texas size 4000+ people from all walks of life attended DATA Bathukamma & Dasara Panduga on 23rd September @ Everest Ranch, McKinney TX.

The evening was perfect, cool breeze from the fields and village setting enhanced the mood of the attendees; the program promptly started at 4:00 PM. Attendees registered their Bathukamma at the reception for a chance to win Gold, silver coins and Sarees.

Bathukamma Chair, Sumana Beeram, along with Bathukamma committee members Neelohita Kotha, Madhavi Reddy, Sarali Kasarla, Kalpana Ganapuram, Prasanna Dongur, Veena Arroju, Pranitha Gontuka, Rama Singireddy, and Kalpana Beeram started program by Jyothi Prajwalana (Candle Light Ceremony) to Lord Ganesha on beautifully decorated 40 feet stage, soon after they started playing to the Bathukamma songs such as “Bathukamma Bathukamma Vuyyalo ... Bangaru Bathukamma Vuyyalo ..." along with attendees. Emcees Rajeshwari and Sandhya cheered the ladies, teenagers and girls and encouraged them to dance to Bathukamma tunes.

By 6:00 pm there were over 300 plus Bathukamma. 3 circles were formed to accommodate over 800+ women. Everyone was extremely happy and many thanked DATA for organizing Bathukamma and Dasara festival celebrations in Navaratri days. With Live drums by “Aditya Group". Bathukamma Nimajjanam was carried by DATA volunteers. Top two BEST Bathukammas were awarded Gold Coins Sponsored by Our Place Indian Cuisine and Silver coins Theramax Rehab Services and Raffle Tickets were sponsored by Spice Bazar.

Dasara Chair Srinivas Damera and his team made arrangements for Durga Pooja on stage, Pallaki ooregimpu, Jammi Pooja and Ravan Dahan. Priest performed Durga Pooja on Stage and blessed attendees, later entire area reverberated with "Jai Mata Di", "Duga Mata Ki Jai". As the children danced to Nava Durga, Ravan Dahan took place to symbolize the triumph of good over evil.

Later in the evening, DATA secretary and cultural chair Bhaskar Arroju introduced artists Sahithi and Yazin Nizar and they performed popular numbers including devotional songs from Shankarabharanam” Theater style seating, concert level lighting, and melodious songs and cool breeze enhanced overall mood of the audience. Over 140 kids performed in front of ~4000 people under the thunderous applause.

Emcee Rajeshwari and Sandhya called DATA president Mahendar Ganapuram to talk about the organization and event. Speaking on the occasion Mahendar said, he is honored to be the president of DATA to implement DATA vision; connect community to promote Charity, Culture and Commerce. He thanked all sponsors and called on Presenting Sponsors – Tea India – Rahim Dharas and US#1 Insurance Agency – Shabana Moloo and felicitated them with bouquet and event plaque. He also thanked Executive Platinum sponsors Akula & Associates, Masala Wok, Basera Indian Cuisine and TekLeaders and Platinum Sponsors Techstar Group, OurPlace Indian Cuisine and Diamond Sponsors Veritos, OurTaxCPA, Megainformatics, EdGurukul, SpeechSoft, Dr. Hima & Satish Reddy and Aruna & Surendar Pampati and Gold and silver and individual sponsors.

Later Mahendar Introduced event committee chairs, President Elect and Vendor Management Chair Kiran Gontuka, Secretary and Cultural Chair Bhaskar Arroju, Past President Ram Kasarla, Foundation Chair and ATA-Telangana Dallas chapter Raghu Maripeddi, Treasurer Praveen Ekkati, Dasara chair Srinivas Damera, Planning Committee chair Neelohita, Dallas Area Telangana Association (DATA) Audio & Video chair Satish Nandra, Bathukamma chair Sumana Beeram, Decoration chair Madhavi Reddy, Logistics chair Srinivas Desarapu, and Volunteer chair Amit Diggikar along with DATA Board of Trustees, Office Bearers, EC team, Foundation Team and DATA Core Team. Mahendar also said, he is fortunate to have these committed individuals in the event committee to make a memorable event.

Mahendar thanked all organizations IANT, TANTEX, ATA, NATA, TATA, Telangana Jagruthi, TANA, NATS, ATA-Telangana, TEA, and ATA for their support and event emcees and singers were felicitated with event plaque.

The DFW Indian community embraced DATA's idea of celebrating Bathukamma & Dasara festivals with the support of local and national organizations. DATA will continue to count on your unwavering support to DATA vision to “Promote Culture, Charity and Commerce” in the community.

Speaking on the occasion, President Elect Kiran Gontuka said, he is honored to be the president elect of the organization and humbled to share responsibilities with DATA team, and said he is committed to execute such mega events in the coming year.

Food vendors offered authentic Telangana food and festival foods at a reasonable price.

DATA thanked exclusive media partners FunAsia and YuvaMedia, media houses TV5, ManaTV, TV9, V6, T-News, DP TV, 6TV, YoYo TV, digital media partners TAGS photography, MyIndMedia, Telugu Patrika.

Mahendar Ganapuram
President – Dallas Area Telangana Association