About the Geckos

Our Purpose

Through our Geckos family, we aspire to inspire and learn from each other, bearing witness to the growth of each individual. Our goal is to positively impact the world as we journey through life together. This website serves as our abode and time capsule, where we reflect on our expeditions and delve deeper into spirituality, community, and life learning. Guided by our five core principles—connecting with our Baba and Gurugaru, fostering meaningful relationships, embracing community living, developing tools for well-being, and reconnecting with nature—we strive to live purposefully and authentically.

How We Met

Once upon a time, deep in the heart of a verdant farm, there was an unusually jovial group of geckos. Unlike their fellow farm inhabitants, these geckos were social, vivacious, and known for their peculiar yet delightful behavior. They would gather every evening, exchanging stories of the day's adventures, their laughter echoing throughout the farm. Their sound was so iconic that it became known far and wide throughout the farm. The geckos’ nightly gatherings brought joy and camaraderie among them, symbolizing a sense of community, fun, and friendship.

During Gurupurnima 2022, a few of the Geckos sought the opportunity to talk to Sruti Akka. They expressed their concerns of feeling as though they didn’t belong in the US. They also relayed the stress and anxieties from the expectations of life as a young adult in the US. Sruti Akka sensed the need for a refuge in the form of a summer camp. She envisioned a place where Saikids could experience camaraderie, laughter, and community. Alas, the camp was affectionately named "Giggling Geckos,” to embody the traits of geckos and celebrate their spirit of togetherness, fun, and laughter. Sruti Akka penned a set of concrete goals for the camp:

  1. forming long-term, meaningful friendships

  2. practicing a digital detox

  3. experiencing communal living

  4. becoming closer with nature

  5. learning tools for dealing with stress and anxiety

  6. developing a deeper connection with Baba and Guruji

Essentially, the goal was, and still is, to ensure that just like geckos, every Giggling Gecko left with a treasure trove of fun memories, friendships, and, giggles that echoed long after the summer had ended. By the end of camp, the campers experienced the most nourishing and healthy foods, practiced active lifestyles, and felt Baba and Guruji’s presence immensely throughout camp. Ultimately, the camp not only achieved its goals but also profoundly enriched the campers' lives with lasting memories, new perspectives, and practical tools for mindful and healthy living, all while embracing the beauty and serenity of Haritachala.

In the summer of 2023, in Haritachala, Tiruvannamalai, India, the Giggling Geckos camp commenced and since then, the participants of the camp became family.

Who We Are

The Geckos are a close-knit community of Indian American Sai Kids residing across the United States. Having been brought up in the environment of Satsang, each of us shares a unique connection with our Sadguru Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi and Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji (our beloved Guruji). Despite our geographical distance, we've longed for a space to connect with fellow Sai Kids and deepen our spiritual journey. The Geckos family offers us a platform to strengthen our bond with Baba and Guruji while providing opportunities to foster meaningful connections with Sai Kids from all corners of the country.

Meet the Geckos

  • Hasita Pola

    Saiseeker

    Hello everyone! I’m 18 years old and I'm from Dallas, Texas. I love to bake and read, and I am also the cinematographer and editor behind the Gecko vlogs. I’m currently in the process of fulfilling my childhood dream of opening a bakery (Harithachala Bakery!), and I am so excited to share all the Harithachala inspired baked goods with everyone!

  • Anvitha Voruganti

    Saiseeker

    I am 17 years old and I am from Los Angeles, California. I love doing gymnastics and I am currently a gymnastics coach! I love reading books and listening to lots of music! I aspire to be either a FBI agent, lawyer, or open my own gymnastics center. I love spending time with my friends especially the geckos! I also really love working on our website!

  • Saidharani Sailam

    Saiseeker

    I am 16 years old and from Edison, New Jersey. I love walking, making coffee, and playing with my dog Winston! I also love going out of my comfort zone, traveling, and getting to know new people! I love spending time in Satsang and enjoy our weekly book club meetings! I aspire to pursue the medical field and work towards becoming a pediatrician in the future.

  • Sai Keertana Ganta

    Saiseeker

    I am 18 years old from Seattle, Washington. Some of my favorite things to do are sing, take pictures, bake, spend time with friends and family, and dance Bharatanatyam! I have been dancing since the age of 4 and love portraying Baba’s stories. In additon to this art form, I enjoy doing Madhubhani art and have created multiple paintings related to Baba. I enjoy teaching kids madhubhani and bharatanatyam as well as being a telugu teacher to some children in my area. Someday I hope to become a criminal lawyer or a corporate lawyer!

  • Anshu Voruganti

    Saiseeker

    I am 21 years old from Los Angeles, California. I love to dance Bharatanatyam and have been dancing in Saipatham from the age of five! I also love spending time with my friends and family, teaching younger kids dance, traveling, and cooking! I am currently working as a behavioral therapist for kids with autism and my goal is to spread awareness about autism and help kids all over the world!

  • Jahnavi Sakhamuri

    Saiseeker

    Hi everyone! I’m known as Jahu and I’m from New Jersey. I love to travel and am currently checking boxes off a long checklist of countries to visit. I also love to read and can spend hours getting lost in stories or autobiographies! Professionally, I am currently pursuing my doctorate in optometry (as an eye doctor!).

  • Shreeja Chekuri

    Saiseeker

    Hello! I’m from Dallas. I love getting creative and am passionate about creating meaningful designs. I spend a lot of time taking art, pottery, and designing classes. I also love to travel and draw inspiration from the places I visit for my designs. With my remaining time, I like to stay active by playing pickleball and frisbee with my friends.

  • Pravallika Kullampalle

    Saiseeker

    Hi everyone, I am Pravallika, a 20 year old Saiseeker from Ashburn, Virginia. I love painting and drawing, learning dance, reading and writing, and spending time outdoors with friends and family! I love learning new things, and am part of the Haritachala Organics Design Team. I aspire to become a Product Manager and use my skills in Computer Science to fuel a good cause!

  • Tanvi Pothireddy

    Saiseeker

    Hi everyone! I’m Tanvi, a 15-year-old Saikid from Dallas, Texas. I love to bake, spend time with family, and pen down poems and articles about Saipatham. I also love being a part of our Haritachala Bakery! I’m interested in business and computer science and hope to work as a Business Consultant.

  • Tapaswini Bhavanam

    Saiseeker

    Hi! I am 19 years old from Dallas, Texas. I love dancing, singing and traveling. I also love spending quality time with my family and friends! I am passionate about anything and everything fashion related, from putting outfits together to sewing! I have always loved creating things and bringing my ideas to life!

  • Gecko

    Namita Bhavanam

    Saiseeker

    I am 21 years old and from Dallas, Texas. I love spending time with my friends and family and I hope to one day make some change and give back to world that has nurtured me. I love art, especially painting; one of my favorite projects last summer was painting the various walls around Haritachala. I also enjoy learning about and immersing myself in new cultures and languages, and I had the chance to use my Spanish skills during our visit to Órgiva! I'm gradually ticking off my bucket list, with Japan as my next destination!

  • Geetika Kullampalle

    Saiseeker

    Hey! I'm a 17-year-old from Loudoun County, Virginia, and I'm absolutely passionate about the outdoors, music, photography, and art. Whether I'm hiking through nature trails, capturing stunning landscapes with my camera, or immersing myself in the vibrant rhythms of different music genres, I'm always seeking new experiences and adventures. I'm also an avid traveler who loves exploring diverse cultures and traditions, and I find joy in nurturing my garden and watching life bloom around me. Plus, I can't wait to welcome a furry friend into my life soon by adopting a dog to join me on all my outdoor escapades!

  • Keerthi Padavala

    Saiseeker

    Hi everyone, I am 19 years old and I am from Dallas, Texas. I love to dance, and I have been dancing Bharatanatyam and Bollywood ever since I was five years old! I also love to spend time with my friends and family. Everyone that knows me knows that I am super loud and talkative. I am always ready and excited to strike up a conversation with anyone! I am also a Telugu fanatic, I literally only watch and listen to Telugu movies and music. I aspire to be a manager in Computer Science to use my skills and create a positive difference in the world!

  • Varsha Voruganti

    Saiseeker

    I am 19 years old and I am from Los Angeles, California. I love any sort of sports and physical activity and I spend most of my free time in the gym. I also love learning about different cultures. I’m currently in the process of getting my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and aspire to be part of the business field soon!

  • Upasana Manem

    Saiseeker

    Hi! I am 18 years old from Dallas, Texas. Some of my hobbies include Kuchipudi, crocheting, and singing. I also love to explore new things, and travel to new places! I aspire to pursue a career in Data Science and contribute to closing the gender gap in the STEM field!

  • Samanvi Kotagiri

    Saiseeker

    Hello everyone! I am 17 years old and I am from Charlotte, North Carolina. I love reading books, baking, and painting! I also love spending time with friends and family and volunteering all around my community. I aspire to go to medical school and become a surgeon.

  • Aneesha Mupparaju

    Saiseeker

    Hi everyone! I’m Aneesha. I’m from a small town in Andhra near Ongole and was mostly raised in Austin, Texas. I work in tech and live in Manhattan, New York City where I enjoy exploring the city by going to art museums, parks, going on walks along the water, playing tennis, and taking dance fitness classes. I also enjoy traveling and have been to 35+ countries and 6 continents. I enjoy traveling because it gives me a chance to learn new languages & get different perspectives on life.

  • Varenya Sirasanagandla

    Saiseeker

    Hi everyone! My name is Varenya. I am 16 years old from Austin, Texas. Some of my favorite hobbies are to travel, cook, Bharatanatyam, and spend time with my friends and family, especially my geckos family. One of my favorite places to be in the entire world is Haritachala, as I love surrounding myself with the green beauty. I aspire to make a difference and work in the STEM field one day.

  • Sanjuktha Thotakuri

    Saiseeker

    I am 18 years old from Los Angeles, California. I love going on runs, making coffee and listening to music. I also love spending quality time with my family and friends! I am currently getting my degree in computer science and aspire to be a part of the cybersecurity field.