September 2024 - Wherever you looked, there was a festive buzz. About 500 Kannadigas packed the temple hall to watch Yakshagana, and the joy on everyone's faces was palpable. Seeing so many of our own together filled me with pride—and made me wonder: what was it like thirty or forty years ago?
Back in the 1990s, for Kannadigas living in Orlando, simply hearing their mother tongue was rare. At that time, a single "mailing list" brought together those scattered across the city—an effort led by Sri Guruprasad, Sri Girish Budibetta, and Sri Badarish.
In 2000, Orlando's Kannadigas held their first community picnic. The tradition continued annually, and in 2004 the growing popularity of the Orlando Kannada Koota helped attract the AKKA Sammelana. With great enthusiasm, the community partnered with Tampa's Shrigandha Kannada Koota to make the event a success.
As Kannada families flourished in Orlando, the Koota began hosting yearly cultural programs from 2010 onward. A milestone came on August 24, 2012, when Orlando Kannada Sangha Inc. was officially registered; with support from Sri Kiran Babaladi and team, it became a nonprofit in 2015.
