MATA extended the rich heritage of Bonalu festival in Atlanta, Georgia

Mana American Telugu Association (MATA) celebrated the Bonalu festival in a spectacular fashion in Atlanta, in partnership with the Hindu Temple of Atlanta. This year, MATA extended the rich heritage of the Bonalu festival to four major cities: New Jersey, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas.

Through this initiative, MATA is committed to passing down the vibrant traditions of the Bonalu festival to the younger generations in the USA, ensuring that this significant cultural legacy continues to thrive. The MATA Bonalu festival featured a diverse array of cultural activities, including Potatajulu, the Ammavari Vuregimpu with Simha Vahanam, captivating traditional music performances featuring Dappulu and Sannai, along with more than 30 Bonalu offerings by dedicated participants.

The spiritual essence of the festival was marked by Ammavari puja conducted by the Hindu Temple priests, and the joy of the event was further enriched by delightful Kuchipudi dance performances by our talented children. We also honored our contributors with appreciation medals presented by Ravi Chander of the Hindu Temple. MATA would like to express heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a role in making this event a resounding success. A special acknowledgment goes out to the key contributors:

Event Organization & Execution: Nagesh Chilakapati, Srinivas Kukkadapu, Ravi Chander
Event Planning: Kalyani Bellamkonda
Bonalu Offerings & Arrangements: Sirisha Sajja, Sirisha Byreddy, Shireesha Mantri, Roopa Vemula, Anuja Golla, Swetha Pagadala. Ravi Chander, Stikanth Kari, Ravi Kari, Sairam, Aravind Goli
Pota Raju: Srinivas Dandepalli

Dappulu: Rajesh and Srinivas
Kuchipudi Dance: Harini’s Dance Group
Folk Songs: Srinivas Dandepalli, Bijju Naik, Janardhan Pannela
Potarajulu Makeup: Roopa Vemula
Decorations: Harini Vemaraju
And All MATA volunteers who assisted with stage activities.

MATA President Srinivas Ganagoni and Community Services Director Nagesh Chilakapati wish to extend their sincere appreciation to the management of the Hindu Temple of Atlanta for their invaluable collaboration, which made this event possible within the temple premises.

MATA also want to recognize Ravi Chander and his team for their meticulous attention to detail throughout the execution of the festivities, including the Vuregimpu and puja activities. MATA thanks everyone for being an integral part of this memorable celebration.