Edison, NJ – March 19, 2026: Royal Albert Palace in Edison, NJ, was transformed into a vibrant stage of culture and compassion as Sankara Nethralaya USA hosted its first event of the year, Music and Dance for Vision, with about 500 community members, a philanthropic celebration to support the ongoing Adopt-A-Village program designed to perform eye surgeries for underserved communities in India. The event began at 5:00 PM and showcased the power of community, art, and service in the mission to eradicate preventable blindness in rural India. In their opening remarks, Sudhakar Uppala and Indira Dixith, Board of Trustees, said, “New Jersey pulses with a spirit of service. Tonight, we came together—not just to gather, but to illuminate lives through a shared purpose.” “Sankara Nethralaya USA continues to empower its trustees, and we are heartened by the enthusiastic support from New Jersey in advancing our mission to serve underprivileged individuals affected by vision impairments,” quoted by Bala Reddy Indurti, President of Sankara Nethralaya USA.
A Vibrant Showcase of Classical, Folk, and Film Dance
Following the opening remarks, the stage came alive with a dazzling array of classical Indian dance performances. Dance academies from across the New Jersey area—including Little Musicians Academy USA, Kuchipudi Dance Center, Natya Tatva Sri Sai Venkateshwara Fine Arts, Kalagangothri Foundation, Siddhendra Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chinmayi Nrithyalaya, Sowparnika Dance Academy, Chaitanya Jurru, Kuchindria Dance Group presented thematic pieces rooted in tradition and storytelling. Each school brought a unique flavor to the stage, from mythological narratives to vibrant folk expressions, captivating the audience with their grace, discipline, and devotion. The cultural program concluded with the fashion show, a vibrant showcase of style, confidence, and creativity as the participants light up the stage with their elegance and energy, which was led by Padma Mona and Radhika Ganne.
Guardians of Sight: Honoring the Sponsors Whose Generosity Enabled $150,000 for Village Eye Camps
Mr. Prasad Reddy Katamreddy, Brand Ambassador and Board of Advisors of Sankara Nethralaya USA served as the Chief Guest for this event. “It is a privilege to stand with a mission that restores not just sight, but dignity and hope. When communities unite with compassion, the impact reaches far beyond what any one of us can achieve alone,” quoted by Mr. Katamreddy. Music and Dance for Vision event proved to be a resounding success, raising over $150,000 in essential funding through the steadfast support of twelve MESU Adopt-A-Village sponsors and many generous individual donors. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to sponsors Dr. Raghava Reddy Gosala, Dr. Priya Korrapati, Venkat Kannan, Pratap Jakka, Srini & Jyothi Bikkumanla, Sathiesh Ramaiyapillai & Kalaivani Panneerselvam, Ravi Reddy Maraka, Dr. S. Yegnasubramanian, Dr. Sheshakumari Murthy & Dr. Sreenivasa Murthy, Dr. Sandipani Sandilya, Sreenivas Emani, and Shankar Setty. This extraordinary act of generosity will enable approximately 2300 cataract surgeries —each one offering the transformative gift of sight to underserved individuals living with vision impairment
New Jersey Senate, Assembly Honors Sankara Nethralaya leaders for Exceptional Service
The New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly issued a Joint Legislative Resolution honoring Prasad Reddy Katamreddy for his leadership, philanthropy, and service to the community. This official tribute was signed by Nicholas P. Scutari, President of the Senate; Craig J. Coughlin, Speaker of the General Assembly; Addison B. Hinrichs, Secretary of the Senate; and Dana M. Burley, Clerk of the General Assembly. Bala Reddy Indurti, President of Sankara Nethralaya USA, was honored with formal recognitions from both the State of New Jersey and the Township of Edison for his extraordinary leadership and humanitarian service. The State Senate resolution was signed by Nicholas P. Scutari, President of the Senate, and attested by Addison B. Hinrichs, Secretary of the Senate, while the mayor’s proclamation was issued and signed by Samip Joshi, Mayor of Edison. Dr. Rajendra Modi, Board of Advisors and Benefactor, was felicitated for his longstanding service, and special thanks were extended to Mr. Upendra Chivukula, Commissioner Emeritus, for gracing the occasion and honoring the Chief Guest.
In a spirit of deep gratitude, the evening paid tribute to the dedicated performers whose passion and artistry made the cultural program a resounding success. Their months of tireless preparation, creative vision, and unwavering commitment transformed the stage into a powerful expression of Sankara Nethralaya USA’s mission. Behind the scenes, the SNUSA New Jersey Team worked tirelessly, dedicating countless hours to make the evening a success. From planning and coordination to ensuring every detail was perfect, their teamwork was a testament to what can be achieved when people come together for a noble cause. It feels good—deeply good—to see a team unite, hearts aligned, working selflessly for the betterment of others. Dr. Reddy Urimindi, Board of Trustees, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Raghu Sarma Sankaramanchi, Founder and Head Priest of Sai Datta Peetam and Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, arranged a special service in honor of the visiting SNUSA Chief Guest, Prasad Reddy Katam Reddy, along with the President and Trustees, prior to the event on the same day. His ceremonial welcome and blessings brought a profound spiritual grace to the occasion. Sincere appreciation to the New Jersey core team led by Sudhakar Uppala, Indira Dixith, Damu Gedala, and Prameela Gopu, and volunteers Suresh Gourishetty, Suresh Makam, Ravi Shankar Appana, Narun Viraj Appana,Swetha Nagireddy, Nandini Dargula, Harika Gaddampally, Aadhya Kapoor, Jayakrishna Manda, Usha Darisipudi, Mukesh Kashiwala, Maruthi Srinivas, and Krishna. Thanks to the out-of-town SNUSA guests, Treasurer Moorthy Rekapalli, Board of Trustees Sridhar Reddy Tikkavarapu, Adi Morreddy, Women’s Committee Chair Rekha Reddy, Cultural Chair Neelima Gaddamanugu, Piram Manickavasagam, Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan, Anita Singh, and Youth Team member Pritika Jakka. A special shoutout to Sridhar Chillara of ManaTV/TV5, Simha of Sakshi TV, and the Chennai team—Dr. Surendran, Dr. Girish Rao, Suresh Kuamar, Theagarajan, and Deen Dayalan for their creative contribution in designing the event’s stunning flyers. Together, this incredible team exemplified dedication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to Sankara Nethralaya’s mission of service. A grand farewell was given by the New Jersey team to the visiting SNUSA team for their next event scheduled for Sunday, March 15th, in Columbus.
Please find the event photos at the following: https://sankaranethralayausa.org/snusa-music-dance-for-vision-march-14th-2026/index.html
For more information or to donate, please visit www.sankaranethralayausa.org or call toll-free at (855) 463-8472.
Tax-deductible donations (Tax Exempt ID No. 52-1611548) can be mailed to:
Sankara Nethralaya USA, 7238 Muncaster Mill Rd, No. 522, Derwood, MD 20855.
Cover photo: Bala Reddy Indurti being recognized.
