Knoxville Telugu Association logo — lotus with Tennessee tri-star and organization nameKnoxville Telugu Association

KTA

Culture, community, and belonging in East Tennessee

Serving Telugu-speaking families in Knoxville with programs that honour culture and community.

  • Serving community since 1995
  • Cultural events
  • Sports & youth
  • Community service
Explore eventsContact usOur story
Illustration of a Telugu community celebration on a green lawn: Ganesha shrine, colourful rangoli, kites in the sky, and families in traditional dress
From Ugadi through India Fest — Telugu culture, music, and dance with families in East Tennessee.

Happy Mother’s Day

ప్రతి తల్లి కి మా ఈ నివాళి

అవని పై అవతరించిన అద్భుతం అమ్మ ఆలంబనకు ఆసరాకు నిలిచేది అమ్మ గాయపడ్డ గొంతులోన తొలిపలుకే అమ్మ హద్దులేని మమకారానికి సరిహద్దే అమ్మ నిస్వార్ధపు ప్రేమకు నిలువుటద్దం అమ్మ చలనానికి గమనానికి దిక్సూచి అమ్మ మానవత్వ మనుగడకు మొదటి మెట్టు అమ్మ ఆందోళనతో అలసిన గుండెకు ఊరట అమ్మ వ్యక్తిత్వ వికాసానికి పునాది అమ్మ మంచి చెడులు వివరించే మొదటి గురువు అమ్మ బిడ్డ భయం పోగొట్టే బెబ్బులే అమ్మ అమ్మ అనే ఊహే ఎంతో బాగుందమ్మా అమ్మ…. అమ్మ…. అమ్మ ఇంతకన్నా గొప్ప పదం నాకు తెలియదమ్మ అట్టి అమ్మల త్యాగాన్ని గుర్తుచేసుకోమ్మ పిల్లల భవితకు జీవితాన్ని పణంగా పెట్టేదే అమ్మ దేశానికి వీరులనందించే ధీరవనిత అమ్మ గుర్తింపు కోసం ఏనాడు గళం విప్పదు అమ్మ మచ్చలేని మమతకు మచ్చు తునక అమ్మ మొక్కవోని ధైర్యానికి మైలురాయి అమ్మ అమ్మంటే మనo చూసే దేవతేనమ్మ ఇలలోని అమ్మలను చల్లంగ చూడు దుర్గమ్మ

— శ్రీనివాస్ తుమ్మల

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Who we are

Rooted in Telugu heritage, growing in Knoxville

Volunteer-led and community-driven — Telugu-speaking families and friends across East Tennessee celebrating culture, raising generous kids, and giving back locally.

Children and a mentor from the Knoxville Telugu Association in traditional dress with hands in namaste, in an ornately carved temple-style setting

Our mission

We nurture Telugu language, heritage, and friendships while strengthening ties across generations in East Tennessee.

A welcoming, volunteer-led hub where families celebrate culture together, serve locally, and support each other through life’s milestones.

Read our story

Ways to plug in

  • Festivals, language circles, and youth programs.
  • Cricket, volleyball, and pickleball with coaching and rotating schedules.
  • Volunteer at festivals and sports; host or mentor — we share the work.
Explore sportsReach the board
Volunteers and community members in traditional dress at an outdoor festival, with colourful rangoli and marigold garlands

Volunteers

Volunteer with us

Knoxville Telugu Association is volunteer-led. We rely on families to help with festivals, sports days, setup, registration tables, photography, and youth activities.

  • Sports: help with cricket, volleyball, and pickleball meetups — line judges, scorekeepers, and welcome desks.
  • Events: festival crews, parking greeters, food lines, and cleanup rotations.
  • Programs: assist teachers and parents during Sunday language classes at the HCC Temple.

Tell us how you would like to help — we will match you with a committee lead.

Offer to volunteerMeet the leadership team

Youth & language

Mana Badi & Purna Vidya (Sundays)

Telugu language and heritage classes for children meet on Sundays at the HCC Temple. Programs include Mana Badi and Purna Vidya sessions led by volunteer teachers.

Sundays · Hindu Community Center (HCC Temple) · 8580 Hickory Creek Road, Lenoir City, TN 37771

Serving the greater Knoxville area.

For enrollment and class details, email the leadership team or use the contact form — a volunteer will respond.

Contact usLeadership team
Children performing classical dance in colourful traditional attire on a decorated stage

Athletics

Energy on the pitch and the court

Inclusive seasons for families — beginners welcome, respect non‑negotiable.

Cricket batsman on a green pitch during a match
Cricket

Weekend nets, friendly fixtures, and room for beginners.

Our cricket circle focuses on inclusive play for youth and adults. We emphasize coaching, equipment sharing, and rotating schedules so families can participate without pressure.

Learn more
Indoor volleyball action at the net
Volleyball

Indoor sessions that prioritise fun and fundamentals.

Volleyball nights are designed for mixed skill levels. We split time between drills and scrimmages so everyone gets meaningful touches on the ball.

Learn more
Pickleball player lunging to hit the ball on an outdoor court at dusk
Pickleball

Fast, social doubles on compact courts — easy to learn, hard to put down.

Pickleball sessions welcome beginners and seasoned players alike. We organise round-robin play, skill-friendly brackets, and short coaching blocks so everyone gets time on the court.

Learn more

Calendar

Upcoming cultural highlights

This year — June picnic at TVA Pavilion, Lakeshore Park (3–10 PM), August India Fest at HCC Temple (11 AM–5 PM), and October Bathukamma / Dussehra (details coming soon).

KnoxTA picnic 2025 — community group outdoors with the KnoxTA picnic banner
Community

Father’s Day Family Picnic

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Saturday June 14 — 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Lakeshore Park’s TVA Pavilion. Outdoor picnic with lawn games, cricket tennis ball toss, sack races, and a relaxed BBQ-style dinner.

When
Sun, Jun 14, 7:00 PM
Where
TVA Pavilion — Lakeshore Park
Event detailsRegistration soonAsk a question
Outdoor India Fest with marigold-decorated stalls, crowd in traditional dress, and a performance stage
Cultural

India Fest

Saturday, August 22, 2026

August at the Hindu Community Center (HCC Temple), 11:00 AM–5:00 PM — lights, bazaar stalls, stage showcases, kids’ diya craft, and community celebration. Exact August date will be confirmed soon.

When
Sat, Aug 22, 3:00 PM
Where
Hindu Community Center (HCC Temple), Lenoir City
Event detailsRegistration soonAsk a question
Bathukamma celebration — women in traditional silk sarees dancing in a circle around a tall floral tower with marigold garlands
Cultural

Dussehra — Navratri & Bathukamma

Sunday, October 18, 2026

October in Knoxville — Bathukamma, Navratri, garba/dandiya, and Vijayadashami. Exact dates and venue will be announced when confirmed.

When
Sun, Oct 18, 9:00 PM
Where
October — venue and schedule coming soon
Event detailsDetails soonAsk a question
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Leadership

Volunteers you can know by name

A short introduction — meet the full team on our leadership page.

Rajendra Prasad Kandula — Knoxville Telugu Association leadership

Rajendra Prasad Kandula

Volunteer board

Meet the team →

VSN Rakesh Uppala — Knoxville Telugu Association leadership

VSN Rakesh Uppala

Volunteer board

Meet the team →

Meet everyone

Volunteer-led — stay in the loop

Questions about festivals, sports, Sunday language classes at the HCC Temple, or lending a hand? Reach out — a volunteer will reply.

Contact usLeadership team