ATA Announces Literary Programs for the 19th Conference and Youth Convention

ATA: The American Telugu Association (ATA) has organized an extensive series of literary programs as part of its 19th Conference and Youth Convention, scheduled to be held at the Baltimore Convention Center from July 31 to August 2, 2026. These events aim to celebrate and promote Telugu language, culture, and literary arts.

Schedule of Events: Saturday, August 1, 2026
The literary events feature various discussions and competitions:

The inauguration of literary programs, including a welcoming address, presidential speech, and book releases, will take place from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM.

A panel discussion on language, literature, and culture (past, present, and future) is scheduled from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM.

The announcement of story competition winners and story readings will occur from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

Schedule of Events: Sunday, August 2, 2026
The second day includes sessions on history, poetry, and cultural traditions:

A session regarding milestones in Telangana history and culture will be held from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM.

A discussion on the evolution of poetic trends among Telugu people in America is scheduled from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.

From 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, there will be interactive sessions including poems, proverbs, and quizzes where participants can win prizes.

The poetry finals and the announcement of winners, followed by a prize distribution, will take place from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

A featured Ashtavadhanam program is scheduled from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.

A poetry summit and awards ceremony for the best poems will occur from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

The closing ceremony and vote of thanks will conclude the events from 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

Literary Committee Leadership:
The literary committee overseeing these programs includes Chair Venu Nakshathram, Co-Chairs Surya Nampelly and Rajkumar, and advisors Jayadev Mettupalli, Prakash Timmapuram, and Rajeshwar Rao Tekmal.