Atlanta, GA, August 25, 2023: The Greater Atlanta Telangana Society (GATeS) celebrated the joy of outdoor dining with “Vanabhojanam” at Buford Park in Atlanta, Georgia on August 20, capturing the attention of the community throughout the week.
Dedicated to promoting Telangana culture in the Atlanta area and its surroundings, GATeS orchestrated the delightful “Vanabhojanam” at Buford Park. The event witnessed an impressive turnout of approximately 1200 attendees, spanning across generations from children to grandparents.
Nestled in the northern part of Atlanta, Buford Park is a haven of natural beauty, boasting lush trees, vibrant shrubs, and ample shaded spaces. The park’s serene ambiance is complemented by its proximity to water bodies, the melodious symphony of chirping birds, and designated play areas catering to both kids and adults. Despite the challenging sun, participants displayed unwavering enthusiasm throughout the event.
The meticulous planning of this event spanned several months, a testament to the dedication of GATeS volunteers to ensure a memorable experience for all. The organizers and board members of GATeS extended warm invitations to people from diverse walks of life, and traditional Telangana dishes were expertly prepared on-site, showcasing the enduring culinary heritage of Telangana. The park was transformed into a gastronomic delight, offering the rich flavors of Telangana cuisine.
The event commenced with a gracious welcome by President Shri Janardan Pannela and Srinivas Parsa, accompanied by the Executive Committee and Board of Directors members. Esteemed members, founders, and sponsors of GATeS actively engaged in and relished the festivities.
The culinary endeavors were seamlessly orchestrated by the Chairs, Co-chairs, and diligent volunteers of GATeS who commenced their day at the early hour of 6 AM, meticulously arranging every detail. By noon, the skilled GATeS chefs had prepared a mouthwatering feast that continued until 5 PM, featuring appetizing dishes such as Mirchi bajji, onion pakoda, and Masala tea.
Throughout the event, attendees were treated to refreshing chilled water, juicy watermelons, and roasted corn. The banquet included an array of 8 vegetarian dishes, complemented by 4 meat variations, along with curd, raita, sweets, and ice cream. Additionally, soft drinks were made available for the younger participants.
Post-lunch, a variety of engaging children’s games and a lively game of Bingo were organized. Jyothsna Palakurthi, a member of the Board of Directors (BOD), played a pivotal role in curating interactive activities for both children and adults. These activities encompassed traditional pastimes like tug-of-war, collaborative ring-toss games for parents and children, and an exhilarating spoon-and-cone race designed for the younger participants. Furthermore, she facilitated social games that fostered connections among attendees and organized a captivating talent show, spotlighting the exceptional abilities of the young participants.
The event concluded with a ceremony honoring the first and second-place winners, who were presented with gift cards as tokens of appreciation. Special recognition was also extended to spirited senior citizens and proactive parents who dedicated their time and effort, acknowledging their valuable contributions with gift cards.
EC member Ganesh Kasam and his team energetically led the Bingo game, engaging around 400 participants, spanning across different generations. The game lasted for approximately two and a half hours, resonating with laughter and camaraderie, and winners were rewarded with enticing Amazon gift cards.
The event received coverage from Shiva Kumar Ramadugu of TV9, a well-regarded supporter of GATeS, who diligently documented the event and captured the speeches. Raghu Valusani worked tirelessly, capturing photographs and videos that effectively encapsulated the essence of the event.
In conclusion, EC Ramana Gandra, alongside the board members and volunteers, ensured that the park’s shelters were left in immaculate condition. All attendees departed with cherished memories of the event, which stands as another successful milestone in GATeS’ journey. The collective efforts of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors have contributed to an expanded GATeS membership, exemplifying their commitment to the cause.
The event saw active participation from prominent leaders of various Telugu organizations, including John’s Creek City Council member Bob Erramilli, Kiran Reddy Pasham, Goutham Goli, Ravichandar, Karunakar AsiReddy, Sunil Savelli, Prashanthi AsiReddy, Anil Boddireddy, Srijan Joginapally, Sridhar Tirupathi, Bharath Reddy Madadi, Kishan Tallapally, Venkat Veeraneni, Sairam Karumanchi, Ratnakar Eluganti, Vivekreddy, Thirmal Pitta, Chand Akkineni, Bapu Reddy Kethireddy, Harish Sudini, Swathi Sudini, and Dr. Ganesh Thota.
The resounding success of the event can be attributed to the ceaseless hard work and dedication of GATeS’ 2023 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, including Janardhan Pannela, Srinivas Parsa, Sandeep Reddy, Naveen Vujjini, Naveen Battini, Ramana Gandra, Prabhakar Madupathi, Kirthidar Goud, Ganesh Kasam, Ramakrishna Gandra, Chalapati Vennamaneni, Ramachari, Jyothsna Palakurthi, Geetha Narannagari, and Raghuveer Reddy.
The event’s remarkable success was also due to the unwavering commitment of numerous volunteers who tirelessly contributed their time and effort. Some of these dedicated individuals include Krishna Japa, Nithin Jalagam, Ashok Palla, Shiva Kiran Lagisetty, Sanjeev Ekkaluri, Harish Maripalli, Anup Mareddy, Premkumar Salida, Shiva Talluri, Swami Palla, Mahesh Koppu, Madhu Nambeti, Rajesh Belda, Depika Reddy Nalla, Dr. Vani Gaddam, Vinay Balagoni, Rajib Mukherji, Madhukar Reddy Patel, Vijaykumar Vinjamara, Anil Kushnapalli, Arun Kavati, Innaiah Yanumula, Narsing Rao Vatnala, Mahender Boosa, Ajay Kumar Gone, Jayachandra Reddy, Kishan Devunoori, Manoj Kumar Mutyam, Madhu VENU, Pramod Enabothula, and Anil Arshanapally.
