Attendees of the IAS' meet and greet / Indian Association of Sacramento

Over 100 Indian Americans, including representatives from several organizations supporting the Indian Association of Sacramento (IAS), participated in the IAS Meet and Greet event held on Feb. 1 at the Folsom Historic District in Folsom, California.

The event was graced by distinguished guests: Mr. Jaswant Singh, Consul at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco; Siri Pulipati - Mayor of Rancho Cordova; Jaya Badiga - Sacramento County Superior Court Judge; Justin Raithel - Mayor of Folsom, YK Chalamcherla - Folsom Cordova School District Board Member, Board President, Director Dave Tamayo from SMUD,  and Folsom City Council Member Sarah Aquino.

The program began with the American national anthem sung by Nithika Rangan, followed by a heartfelt rendition of India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, performed by Nithika, evoking pride in India’s history, traditions, and sacrifices. The audience responded with spirited chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”  Event MCs Anupriya Ramraj and Rajesh Yekkali welcomed attendees and set the tone for the evening.

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Consul Jaswant Singh thanked IAS for organizing the consular camp earlier that morning at the same venue, which served nearly 350 queries in total, which includes 200+ applications from local Indian Americans seeking OCI and visa services.

The audience enjoyed a series of cultural performances, including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Folk dance, and Bollywood dance, which showcased the diversity and artistic talent of the Sacramento Indian American community.

Speaking at the event, Mayor Siri Pulipati appreciated the strong turnout and the unity displayed by IAS and its supporting organizations. YK Chalamcherla encouraged the community to participate in mainstream American civic events and to invite fellow Americans to IAS programs as part of cultural exchange. Judge Jaya Badiga expressed her happiness in joining the meet and greet event and commended IAS for its community‑building efforts.

Ms. Vandna Sharma, IAS Board of Trustees Chair and Past President, thanked the guests of honor for their presence and support.

IAS President JaganMohan Reddy Yachavarapu expressed gratitude to all supporting organizations for coming together and invited the community to the upcoming IAS India Day celebrations in mid‑August. He also spoke about IAS’s mission and vision for the year. IAS Executive Officers — John Britto (Vice President), Magesh Babu (Secretary), Amitabh Shaikh (Treasurer), and Jay Shrivastava (Joint Secretary) — thanked attendees for their participation.

Jagan introduced the IAS Executive Committee and Board of Trustees, and extended special thanks to the Food Committee Lead Siva Prasath, Co‑Lead Vijay Jonnalagadda, and the volunteer team for preparing delicious Indian food and coordinating event logistics. delivered a presentation highlighting IAS’s fundraising initiatives from its inception in 2006 to the present.

All IAS member organizations were invited to introduce themselves and share details about their upcoming events. Several participants noted that the Meet and Greet strengthened the sense of inclusiveness among Sacramento’s Indian American associations and reinforced collaboration between local community groups.

Jagan thanked Bhaskar Vempati, IAS Board of Trustee and Past President, for his instrumental role in coordinating with the Consulate to schedule the consular camp in Folsom. He concluded the program by expressing gratitude to all distinguished guests, community leaders, performers, media coordinators, annual sponsors, and representatives of supporting organizations for contributing to the success of the event and for being part of a celebration where cultural pride and community spirit truly shone at the IAS Meet & Greet.

Several attendees shared their appreciation, noting that the event “reinforced community bonds and celebrated Indian American leadership,” and expressed their happiness in being part of a gathering that “strengthened Sacramento’s Indian American network.”

Founded in 2006, the Indian Association of Sacramento is one of the region’s largest umbrella organizations. IAS has hosted India Day annually, celebrating India’s cultural heritage and history. Over the years, IAS has raised more than $290,000 to support nonprofits in the U.S. and abroad. In the past two years alone, IAS raised over $60,000 to assist families in Greater Sacramento with meals, groceries, medical supplies, school materials, and to send oxygen concentrators to India during the 2021 COVID‑19 crisis.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)

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