200 Members of Manthani Family Reunite in Hyderabad

Karimnagar: In an era where joint families are becoming rare, a remarkable family reunion took place in Hyderabad on Thursday, showcasing the strength of traditional roots.

Nearly 200 descendants of the late Kontham Kishtaiah, originally from Manthani in Peddapalli district, gathered to celebrate their shared heritage at the private resort in the Kondapur area. The gathering featured five generations of the family.

Participants, who relished a tasty treat too, ranged from 80-year-old elders to a six-month old infant. The aroma of mouth-watering dishes hung around the air.

Family members who could not travel from abroad joined the celebration online, ensuring that the entire lineage was represented, braving the geographical divide.

It was a journey down memory lane, with the participants hugging each other and sharing thoughts of the past. The elders reminisced their humble beginnings in Manthani, reflected on the hardships faced by their ancestors, and juxtaposed these with the professional successes of the younger generations.

To document this journey, the family displayed a large visual Family Tree during the event.

To keep their history alive for the future generations, the family made several significant decisions during the meet. One of these was to publish a special book containing photos, introductions and the core values of the family elders. Each sub-family took the stage to introduce themselves to the newer generations, strengthening their bonds.

The day was filled with music, games and performances by the children, creating a festive atmosphere. A sumptuous feast, generous helpings of snacks, sweets, coffee and cold beverages added to the festive mood of the participants.

Attendees said such gatherings were essential in today’s fast-paced world to teach children about their culture and the importance of family support. The reunion served as a bridge between the wisdom of the elderly and the progress of the youth.

Ravikanti Srinivas, a third-generation family member and grandson of the late Kontham Kishtaiah, who coordinated the massive event, shared his thoughts on the reunion’s success.

“While our family roots began in Manthani, many of our family members have since moved to different regions and even to other countries for their careers. Despite the distance, most of them made an effort to attend this gathering, making it a truly memorable and historic event for our lineage,” he said.

“Gathering five generations in one hall is an incredible feeling. It reminded me that no matter how far one can go in their careers or where they live in the world, their roots remain in the simple values taught by their grandparents in Manthani,” he stressed.

The driving force behind this massive gathering was Kontham Kishore, a fourth-generation family member. He took the initiative to connect the scattered branches of the family tree, a task that required nearly a year of dedicated effort.

“I have always maintained close connections with many relatives, so I started a WhatsApp group to bring everyone together,” Kishore told Deccan Chronicle. “It took months of hard work to collect the contact details of all family members, especially the younger siblings. On some days, I was handling more than 50 phone calls to coordinate the details,” he said and beamed into a broad smile.

Kishore noted that while everyone had busy schedules, the family collective showed immense interest in the reunion. Relatives travelled from various parts of the state and country also from the United States, including New York, Phoenix, Kentucky and Kansas City. Those who could not travel during this time, joined the meeting via video call.

“The children were amazed to see such a huge number of relatives. We used the family tree to play games where kids had to identify childhood photos of their parents and figure out how they were related to others,” Kishore said.

“It was such a happy and memorable moment that many of us struggled to control our emotions,” he added.