US Congress declare May 6 as International Veena Day

Sri Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA) and the Shirdi Sai Mandir, Rolling Meadows, have conducted a Two Day International Veena Conference & Festival on May 7 & 8,2022. US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi declared a proclamation honoring the 18th International Veena Festival, which was submitted to the Congressional Record and was entered into the record on May 6,2022. Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam declared May 7,2022 as the International Veena Day .

In this Two day Veena Festival Birth Centenary of Padmashree Emani Sankara Sastri , a Veena Legend and a Great Musician , was celebrated by unveiling his portrait and this was added to the Sunada Sudha Collection of Paintings. The program was started by the Vedic Chantings by Vedic Scholars Sri Hanumat Prasad & Sri Nagraj Vattyam The Veena Schools of Rajaveena, Ensemble of Ragas, RAMA Veena Music Academy, Pallavi School of Music, Teachers Rajeswari Pariti, Saraswati Ranganathan, Rama Gurupalli, Dr Jaishree Prasad, Bhavya Behata, Anupama Ganti, , Neela Amaravadi Emani Kalyani Lakshminarayana, Dr Ayyagari Syamasundaram, Mrs Jayalakshmi have performed live in person and on the Virtual Platform from India and other US Cities.

With a grand Scale total of 80 Veena Participants’ Performances s were presented. Professor Srinivas Acharyulu Vedala of Central Oklahoma University was conferred the title “ Saraswathi Putra” A book titled “ Soubhagya Lahari” by Saraswathi Putra Prof. Srinivas Acharyulu Vedala was released by the Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam.

Professor Vedala stated that Soubhagya Lahari was composed in the likes of Soundarya Lahari of Adi Sankaracharya about Goddess Andal in the Srilekini Metre .. There was a Panel Discussion led by Prof Shelly Kumar along with Dr Sarada Purna Sonty on Ragas Kalyani & Hindolam with Veena Musicians Dr Ayyagari Syamasundaram, Saraswathi Ranganathan, Rama Gurupalli & Rajeswari Pariti which was well received by the audience.

Consul Vinod Gautam from Indian Consulate Chicago graced the occasion and he congratulated the SAPNA Founders Dr Sriram & Dr Sarada Purna Sonty, the Board of Directors of SAPNA, The Volunteers of the Shirdi Sai Mandir. The Veena performances included the compositions of Annamacharya, Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar , Ramadasu, Balamuralikrishna, Chittibabu and other composers. The parents of the Veena Students appreciated the efforts of SAPNA and Shirdi Sai Mandir and went with many memories of great musical performances. Erramilli Sisters Monica & Sheila rendered “ Narayana Suktham” . Sai Sathya, Nagajyothi Vattyam, Malini Adiraju, and Padmaja Buddhavarapu emceed the program efficiently.