Vibrant Sankranthi Celebrations Bring the Community Together

The Andhra Association of Queensland hosted a magnificent Sankranthi Celebrations on Sunday 12th January 2025 at Logan West Community Centre - Hillcrest, bringing families and individuals together for a day filled with joy, traditions and cultural pride. The turnout of over 550 attendees highlighted the importance of such events in fostering togetherness and unity. At the heart of this grand celebration were the visionary founders, Ram Junnuri & Uma Chilukoti whose passion, dedication and leadership made this event a reality. They have always been the driving force behind preserving and promoting our cultural heritage. Their unwavering commitment to bringing the community together in celebration of traditions has created a strong platform for families and individuals to connect, rejoice and reflect on the values that Sankranthi represents. Their tireless efforts, along with the meticulous planning by Sudha Shanker and the dedicated organizing team, ensured the event was a grand success.

The celebration began with a colourful Muggulu (Rangoli) competition, where participants displayed their creativity and skill through intricate and vibrant designs. The creativity and devotion on display highlighted the cultural richness of this traditional art form and brought a vibrant start to the event.

The skies were a spectacle of colour during the Kite-flying activity, with people of all ages enthusiastically taking part in this much-loved Sankranthi tradition. The AAQ event included a kite stall dedicated to all ages presented at the event to have the opportunity and encouragement to fly a kite and connect with their Telugu roots.

The Gobbemmalu Ceremony, a significant part of Sankranthi, brought young girls and women together to decorate gobbemmalu (cow dung balls) with flowers and offer prayers, symbolizing prosperity and unity within the community.

The Bommala Pelli (doll wedding) was a delightful addition to the festivities. This traditional ceremony, which recreated a marriage with beautifully adorned dolls, was organized with great attention to detail. Attendees, especially children, were thrilled to witness and participate in this unique cultural tradition, which symbolizes joy, unity and prosperity.

The celebrations also included Bhogi Pallu, which is a traditional Telugu ritual that is a special time to shower children with flowers, fruits and sweets to wish them eternal health and happiness. Elders, who are often custodians of cultural knowledge, can participate by sharing their experiences and narrating their own stories to the children. This intergenerational exchange fosters a shared sense of community and ensures that traditions are kept. Sankranthi is a festival of togetherness and the AAQ event successfully involved everyone - regardless of age. The traditional dress ramp walk brought the crowd together in celebration of cultural attire. Participants of all ages confidently displayed their stunning traditional outfits, showcasing the beauty of heritage through fashion. A special recognition went to Hari Panchumarthi as the Haridasu Best Dressed, celebrating the participant who best embodied the spirit of the event with their vibrant and authentic Haridasu attire. This added a unique cultural touch, connecting attendees to the timeless traditions of Sankranthi.

The event’s success was enhanced by the charismatic and engaging Master of Ceremonies (MC), Hari Panchumarthi, Archana Pattela, Vidya Mallela, who ensured that the event was lively, entertaining, and perfectly timed. Their ability to connect with the audience, announce activities with enthusiasm and create a joyful atmosphere added a special charm to the celebration. The MC’s role in bringing everyone together and keeping the energy high throughout the day was truly commendable.

The Sankranthi feast was a highlight of the event, offering a rich spread of traditional delicacies, including Ariselu, Boorelu, Avakaya, Pappu, Dappalam which delighted every attendee. The organizing team ensured that the food service was seamless, allowing the large gathering of over 550 people to enjoy a memorable culinary experience.

The organizers left no stone unturned in ensuring the day was special for everyone. Thoughtful, traditional return gifts for women and children were distributed as a token of appreciation, leaving attendees with cherished mementos of the celebration.

Acknowledging the Team Behind the Success

This grand celebration was made possible through the collective efforts of many. Special recognition goes to the founders - Ram Junnuri & Uma Chilukoti whose vision, leadership and dedication laid the foundation for this extraordinary gathering. Their passion for celebrating and preserving cultural traditions continues to inspire the community.

Heartfelt appreciation goes to Sudha Shanker & the Team, whose meticulous planning and execution ensured that every aspect of the event ran smoothly. Their ability to coordinate a large-scale event with such precision was instrumental in its success.

A special thanks to the AAQ EC team Janakiram Mannva, Suneetha Jakkampudi, Priyanka Vadalmudi, Hema Gaddireddi, Kuldeep Ganisetty, Satya Pattela, Dr. Mrinal Madireddi, Swamy Juluru, Bhanu Yapuri, Raju Grandhi whose tireless efforts made every activity and arrangement possible. From setting up the Muggulu Competition, Bommala Pelli to organizing competitions and serving food, their dedication and teamwork were the backbone of the event.

The holistic experience encompassed a special guest at the event. Sri Kiran Kumar Reddy, an Indian Member of Parliament, was an incredible asset to the event as he spoke about the importance of maintaining culture. AAQ also had the sincere privilege of having its website launched during the event by Sri Kiran Kumar Reddy. Our special guests Preethi suraj (President - FICQ), Satya Seelam (PresidentFTAA), Rohit on wheels and many others were present.