Ugadi was celebrated recently in a traditional manner by Soundarya Lahari, a non profit organization in New England Area, which was attended by more than 400 people.

The function was given a divine opening with the Vedic recital in Ghana PaTa by Purohits from Local Temples which was followed by the “Panchanga Sravanam” by the well noted vedic astrologer and founder of SJC Boston Sri Pingali Narasimha Rao Garu who explained in detail about the raasi phalams and the movements of planets for different Raasis and the remedies.

There were many meaningful plays “Nakshtrala Lekka”, “Antha Mana Manchike” and ”Devudu Ekkadunnadu” by Balalahari Kids, all of  which received all-round applause from the audience. It was a great experience for the audience to see small kids reciting Slokas including Bhagavad Geetha and Aditya Hrudayam.

This year’s Panditha Satkaram was done to the eminent Neuro Surgeon of World Famous Massachusetts General Hospital Dr. Venna Nagagopal, who has won the Best Neurologist of USA award for 5 consecutive years .Amidst Vedic chanting by Pundits Sri Kompella Subbarao Garu, Founder of Soundarya Lahari, felicitated Dr. Venna with Shawl and Pattu Vastras.

This was followed by captivating Bharatha Natyam Recital by 9 year old Baby Nitya Yalamanchili .With her apt footwork and expressive abhinayam she enthralled the audience with two items. The item “Ayigiri Nandini”, in particular, was well received by the audience with “once more “applause!

After this Kumari Manasa Jayanthi presented a Classic Dance for “Chirutha Navvulavadu” .With her mature footwork and aaharyam, Manasa won the hearts of many dance lovers.

As a part of Kannada Program, Smt. Shoba Katsyendra, Smt. Amulya Deepak and her group presented a folk dance for a popular Kannada song. With their graceful movements and colorful dress, they provided the smoothening joy to all with their dance. The program concluded with scintillating Bhajans by Srinivas Bala and Subbarao Kompella, who were supported on Tabla by master Praveen and Sri RamBhaskar Navuduri.

The decoration of hall with mango leaves, mangoes and flowers  and the Ugadi Pachchadi and delicious food at the end of function with mouth watering items like”Gutthi Vankaya Kura”, “Pulihora”, etc. gave the audience much needed “homely” feeling and everyone left the venue with a completeness and lots of sweet memories.

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