The First ever Live Telugu Musical Concert conducted in St.Louis was a feast for the ears for the Telugu Music Lovers. SWARABRAMHA MANISHARMA's LIVE MUSICAL CONCERT 2008 started with "Reverse Gear" Guru Swamy the master of ceremony introducing Manisharma's team in his unique comic style

The music journey started with popular songs sung by Malavika, Mallikarjun, Vijayalaxmi, Murali, Hemachandra and Kousalya. The singers enthralled the audience by singing songs from all time hit movies like, Pokiri, Indra, Tagore to the latest hits like Chirutha, Kantri etc. The evening musical hits also included Old Melodies originally sung by the Great Singer Ghantasala too.

Highlight of the night was the performance by "Reverse Gear" Guruswamy who sung some popular songs in the reverse order and also amazed the crowd with his bone tickling jokes. The audience were also impressed by the non-stop performance by Orchestra team.

The organizers presented mementos to Manisharma and his team. Fans posed for the photos with their favorite singers after the show.

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Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari Jayanthi (Sri Vasavi Jayanthi) was celebrated at Mahatma Gandhi Center in St.Louis on Monther's Day. Many people turned up for the pooja.

The Pooja started at around 11:00 am and lasted for couple of hours. Devotees participated in the pooja enthusiastically by doing bhajans and singing Keertans on Sri Vasavi Maatha. The Pooja was followed by Lunch. The event was organized by Dr. Ramulu Samudrala, Rao Chilakala and P. Srinivas.

The organizers told Namaskardesi.com that they are planning to conduct sri Vasavi Maatha Jayanthi every year on Mother's Day as a tribute to the Mothers.

Diamond Ring Raffle was conducted by Shri Vardhaman Jewels Inc on Mother's Day. Several people were qualified for the Raffle based up on the items that they bought and many have also received Pearl Mala for Free.

A young Boy from Syamala Devi's Family has picked up the lucky person that Won the "Diamond Ring" and the lucky person was KAMALJEET GHARIYAL from Ellisville, MO.

Indian Association of St.Louis conducted Spring Festival on Saturday, May 3rd at Mahatma Gandhi Center, St.Louis, MO. As part of the celebrations a Health Camp was also organized at Mahatma Gandhi Center. Several Doctors participated in the Health Camp and also there was a good turn out of the people.

Cultural Activities were conducted in the evening. IAS also sold snacks before the cultural program. Several kids participated and performed in the cultural activities. The performances given by the kids enthralled the audience.

Telugu Association of Saint Louis as celebrated Sarwadhari Naama Samvatsara Ugadi on Saturday, April 12th at Gandhi Center. The event started with Panchanga Shravanam by Priest Srinivas garu. Various Cultural Events were performed by both children and Adults. 23 Months baby has also participated in the cultural events. Prizes were distributed at the end of the event for all the performers. The event followed by dinner with authentic Andhra (South Indian) Food.

Ugadi is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa. Sindhis, people from Sindh, celebrate the same day as their New Year day Cheti Chand. Ugadi is celebrated on a different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March/April) and Ugadi marks the first day of the new year.

Telugu calendar has a sixty year cycle and starts the new year on ugadi(Chaitra Sudhdha Paadyami). After the completion of sixty years, the calendar starts again with the first year.Ugadi is based on Bhaskara II lunar calculations in 12th century. It starts on the first new moon after Sun crosses equator from south to north on Spring Equinox.

Sathwik Katragadda (11) a sixth-grader at Fort Zumwalt West Middle School in O'Fallon MO was declared as the winner of 22nd Annual Post-Dispatch/Maryville University SPELLING BEE Contest in Saint Louis.He was awarded this after correctly spelling "propinquity" and "mitochondria". Last year Sathwik made it to fifth round of the regional competition.Now he will represent Saint Louis at the NATIONAL SPELLING BEE in Washington on May 29 and 30.

Venkat Katragadda and Sree, parents of Sathwik were present at the contest to support there son.After the competition, last year's St. Louis winner, came over to congratulate Sathwik and his family. NamaskarDesi.Com Wishes Good Luck to Sathwik for his NATIONAL SPELLING BEE Contest. If you or any one that you know can help out Sathwik in preparation for this, please contact NamaskarDesi.Com at info@namaskardesi.com

Note: Please let NamaskarDesi.com know about such Achievements in the South Asian Community.

Sankranthi Festival was organized by Telugu Association of St.Louis at Gandhi Center on Saturday, January 19th 2008. Around 250 people participated in the event. Various Cultural Events were performed by both children and Adults. Prizes were distributed at the end of the event for all the performers. The event followed by dinner with authentic Andhra (South Indian) Food like Punugulu, Mamidikai (Mango) Dal, Sambhar, Spicy Chutneys e.t.c.,.Local Priya restaurant sponsored couple of items.

Sankranthi or Sankranti is a festival that signifies the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of Indian Sub-Continent. This is a harvest fesival celebrated not only all over India but other South East Asian Counties as well.

Makara Sankranti has special geo-agri-economical significance to people of Indian Sub-Continent. Makara Sankaranti is about transition of Sun into Capricorn on it's celestial path.(Sankarnti being Sanskrit for transition ). This is significant considering Winter Solstice marking gradual increase of duration of day. Also traditionally this has been one of many (considering vastness of land and climatic variation )harvest days.

The day on which the sun begins its journey northwards is referred to as Makara Sankranti. Sankramana means "to commence movement" and hence the name Makara Sankranti given to one of the largest, most auspicious, but varied festivals in the Indian subcontinent. It usually falls in the middle of January. Because of the geography and size of India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and position in the context of north or south of India.

Bathukamma is a festival in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, celebrated by women in the months of September or October (Aswiyuja), just before Dussera. Batuku means live, and Amma means girl or a female, hence Batukamma. Batukamma celebrates the glory of Gauri- the patron Goddess of womanhood.

Bathukamma Festival was organized by Telangana NRIs in St.Louis in Route 66 State Park. Around 400 people participated in the event.

Women arranged flowers on a plate in a cylindrical manner, and brought their arrangement for the gathering in the park, and danced around it in synchronising steps and claps in unison and sang folk songs. Children and women gathered in large numbers and participated in the festival. After the dance and prayers, these Batukammalu are immersed in the Meramec River.

Prizes were given to Best Bathukammas. These prizes are sponsored by Gagracholi.com and Namaskardesi.com. To encourage participation, participant prizes were given to all the people who prepared Bathukamma. Apart from this, various games were conducted for Men, Women and Children and prizes were distributed.

Organizers and most of the participants brought food and everyone enjoyed the food a lot. Couple of Food items were also sponsored by Ruchi India Cuisine, Priya Restaurant and Ambika Foods. PopCorn (sponsored by Namaskardesi.com) and Pizza was a delight to the children. Door prize was sponsored by Seema Enterprises. Telangana Development Forum (TDF) is also one of the sponsor for the event. Organizers mentioned that they will conduct the event every year.

This event was organized by Sri Ram Vadire, Rao Chilakala, Yadava Raju, Venkat Devara, Anil Aleti, Nand Kishore, Bhaskar Tipparti, Praveen Kumar Singirikonda, Harish Dhanalakota, Sridhar Kodati, Kamalakar Perma, Rajender Ponugoti etc.

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SOUTH ASIA HERITAGE FAIR conducted at Columns Banquet Center in St.Charles opened doors to explore South Asian Culture by people of St.Louis. Various South Asian Associations, Non-Profit Organizations, cultural groups and various Businesses came forward to participate in the First Ever South Asia Heritage Fair organized and promoted by Rao Chilakala, a St. Charles resident originally from Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India.
"It's not only to promote the culture, I just want them to feel like they are in their homeland." said Rao Chilakala. Thousands of people from various ethnic backgrounds participated and made the Fair a Grand Success.

"We had a great opportunity to promote our business by reaching out to many people" said Mr. Jairaj from Shri Vardhaman Jewels. More than 40 vendor stalls offered ethnic Handicrafts, Traditional clothing, Jewelry and Authentic food. Kids kept themselves busy at the Kids corner. "Our Family had a great time exploring cultures and it looked like everyone had a lot of fun! Here's to SAHF 2008!" said Kendra from St.Louis.