Bay Area Telugu Associations’ Float Wins First Place at India Independence Day Parade in Fremont, California
Federation of Indo Americans Association, an umbrella organization of over 40 Bay Area Indian organizations representing different regions/states and culture, celebrated India’a Independence Day by organizing the Festival of India and Parade in Fremont, California on August 11th and 12th. The festival featured a two day Mela and a Parade featuring floats representing States of India on the streets of Fremont. The Grand Marshal at the parade this year was popular Bollywood actress Amrita Rao.
This year’s parade showcased twenty floats from different organizations representing culture and traditions of regions and states of India. The judges of FIA parade have selected Bay Area Telugu Associations’ (BATA) float for the First Place among all floats. BATA’s float depicted India’s national integrity with “Vandemataram” as the main theme. Amrita Rao presented the first place trophy to BATA committee and volunteers during the gala celebrations held after the parade. Thousands of people gathered on the parade route, on the streets of Fremont that were blocked for regular traffic all day for the festivities, to view the parade. During the parade, the parade participants as well as the spectators shouted the patriotic slogans such as “Bharath matha ki, Jai”, “Matharam matharam, vandematharam”, etc.
BATA’s float was decorated colorfully representing the patriotic colors of India. The BATA float was led by several of Telugu people that included children, youngsters as well as seniors. TANA Executive Vice President Mr. Jayaram Komati led the walking group of NRI-TDP representatives Suresh Vuyyuru, Bhakta Balla and Sathish Ambati accompanied the float. Also, while the float was moving in the parade, group of Telugu girls danced in front of the float representing the cultures of states of India. Several young children on the BATA float performed different dances to represent the integrity of Indian states and Vandemataram theme. BATA volunteers have spent several days in and nights designing, constructing and decorating the float. More specifically, the volunteers have spent several hours in making the designed cut-outs and painting them as well as assembling the float late into the nights. The float was built on a long open-top truck using the hard wood boards and huge cut-outs. Karun Veligeti led the team of BATA volunteers in preparing the float, along with Sireesha Duggirala. A large team of volunteers Varun, Nishant, Sridevi, Shreya, Shruti, Sneha, Aparna, Anusha, Narasimha rao, Jyotsna, Kamesh, Swati, Sudha, Srilu, Hari, Kalyani, Sai, Neetu, Jyothi, Sanju, Sharmila, and Srinivas Sanagala worked along with the committee members in constructing the float. Speaking at this occasion, Mr. Yugandhar Karakala (President of BATA) thanked all the volunteers who have worked hard in preparing the float. Additionally, Mr. Yugandhar said without the hard work of BATA executive committee, this float would not have been possible. The BATA executive committee consists of Yugandhar Reddy Karakala, Ravi Thiruveedula, Prasad Mangina, Kalyan Kattamuri, Srinivas Kolli, Sreedhar Chava, Ramesh Konda, Vijaya Aasuri, Srini Mangipudi, Satheesh Pola, Ramesh Mandalapu, Karun Veligeti and Veeru Vuppala. Mr. Yugandhar thanked Sri Lakireddy Hanimireddy for sponsoring the float. Also, Mr. Yugandhar thanked all the people who have rallied with the BATA float.
