NZ Telugu Association celebrates Ugadi Uthsawam at Sai Mandir

The Telugu community in Auckland came together in full enthusiasm to celebrate Ugadi Uthsavam (Telugu New Year) on Saturday (April 9) afternoon. The event, organised by the New Zealand Telugu Association (NZTA) (a charity organisation established in 1998 to maintain the culture of the Telugu people) at Sai Mandir in Onehunga, saw everyone in a gala mood. From savouring authentic Telugu food (which is a mix of six different ingredients such as sweet, sour, salt, bitter, pungent, and spice) to singing performances that paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Telugu lyricist legend Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, the event had something to offer for one and all. The celebration, which took place in two sessions, saw around 320 people attending throughout the day.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the attendees who have registered and attended our Ugadi Uthsavam and made it a grand successful event for their unconditional support. I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of fellow committee members and volunteers alike. I look forward to doing more community events in the future to celebrate our Telugu culture," said Suneel Kuncha, General Secretary, NZTA.

The attendees, too, had all the great things to say about the event. One of the attendees, Rajeeva Moturu, said, “I was amazed by the amount of work this association puts into celebrating cultural events. This event was a true essence of the Ugadi celebration, where there were fun activities, including singing performances for one and all. It was pleasing to see kids singing Telugu songs showcasing our culture. I would like to specially mention the traditional mouth-watering dishes they planned for this event served on Banana leaves. The event was very well planned and adhered to all the Covid-19 protocols.”

Sindhuru A, another guest at the event that had attendance only through registration, also expressed her delight about being at the event. “I enjoyed the event, filled with melodic musical performances and a heartfelt tribute to Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry. The delicious traditional meal served with love by the committee members made me nostalgic about the festivities back home, said Sindhuru.