More than 500 people attended the Andhra Association of Queensland’s Ugadi celebrations in Brisbane, with the event bringing together members of the Telugu community for an evening of cultural performances, community recognition and traditional festivities.
The program began with a ceremonial lamp lighting led by Sudha Sankar, who also served as Master of Ceremonies for the AAQ Prestigious Awards segment. The wider event was hosted by Aswini and Sainath, while Janakiram Manava and Suneetha Jakkampudi coordinated the cultural performances.
Guests were treated to a range of performances throughout the evening, reflecting Telugu language, music and dance traditions. Organisers said the event was designed to celebrate Ugadi while also recognising members of the community for their contributions across a range of fields.
One of the main highlights of the evening was the presentation of the AAQ Prestigious Awards 2025 to 2026. Krishna Mohan Kanduri from BSK received the Community Service Excellence award, while Padma Priya Nori from Palaka Balam Telugu Badi was recognised in the Cultural and Language category.
Akash Racha received the Youth Change Maker award, while Vimala Punugu was named Volunteer of the Year. Telugu Lahari was recognised for Group and Community Contribution, while Geetha Grandhi from SKED received the Rising Star of the Year award.
Saathvika Muturu was awarded Excellence in Studies, while Hema Latha Gaddireddi received the Community Star Award for her work organising blood donation camps and supporting homeless people through AAQ initiatives.
Seven-year-old Nissi Anvika Vadlamudi received the Junior Rising Star award for her fundraising efforts.
AAQ said it takes pride in recognising local community members who contribute their time and effort to supporting others. Community awards have become a regular part of the organisation’s Ugadi celebrations and are intended to highlight the work of people who may not always receive wider public attention.
The event was supported by a number of sponsors, including Mortgage Winner, Harcourts, Kamesh Painting, Remix Rise Springfield and Property Visionaries Buyers Agent. Brinda Kuppili sponsored the shields and medals presented during the awards ceremony.
Food for the event was provided by Hyderabad Flavors, Dosa Hut Gold Coast, Siri Food Paradise, Spice Venue Gold Coast and Cafe Hyderabad in Taigum.
The celebrations marked another large turnout for AAQ and reflected the continued presence and connection of the Telugu community across Queensland.
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