Connecting Across Borders with Applied Systems India

In celebration of the upcoming 20-year anniversary of Applied Systems India and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month in May, Team Applied employees across the globe met virtually with our colleagues at the Bengaluru office in India to learn about their festivals, celebrations, cherished traditions and Bengaluru office dynamics.

An Overview of India Demographics

Home to 28 states and eight Union Territories, India boasts 22 official languages and hundreds of regional dialects. Each state celebrates its unique festivals, contributing to India’s status as one of the most festival-rich countries in the world. Bengaluru, where the Applied India office is headquartered, is known as the tech capital of India.

The Bengaluru Office

The Bengaluru office is a thriving hub of innovation and collaboration, with over 380 team members (and counting). The India team is home to exceptional teams across Engineering, Technology and Customer Experience. The team enjoys their new office space where teammates within the Bengaluru office and colleagues from around the globe can collaborate and connect.

An Abundance of Celebrations

Our team covered some of the many celebrations celebrated across India, including:

Durga Puja

This vibrant, multiday celebration transforms entire communities with intricate pandals (pavilion-like structures) showcasing stunning artistry, cultural performances that bring tradition to life, and communal feasts that foster connection and unity.

Ugadhi

Ugadhi, celebrated in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, marks the beginning of the New Year in the Deccan region and is synonymous with renewal and new beginnings. This festival brings families together to honor tradition through special dishes and meaningful rituals, creating a sense of optimism and growth.

Onam

Onam, Kerala’s iconic harvest festival, is a vibrant celebration that honors the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali, whose reign symbolizes a golden era of prosperity, equality, and harmony. Spanning 10 days during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August–September), Onam brings communities together to celebrate Kerala’s rich heritage, unity, and cultural distinctiveness.

Holi

Holi, celebrated across India, is a vibrant festival that bursts to life with colors, joy, and a sense of togetherness. The holiday celebrates renewal, symbolizing the chance to forgive, let go, and embrace fresh beginnings with open hearts and vibrant hues.

Eid

Eid, celebrated across India, is a day when people come together to exchange greetings, don new attire, and visit the homes of friends and family. A highlight of the celebration is Sheer Khurma, a vermicelli pudding enriched with milk, dates, and nuts, symbolizing the sweetness of togetherness.

Christmas

Christmas, celebrated across India with joy and devotion, radiates hope, peace, and togetherness and is celebrated for about a month. In India, Christmas beautifully blends faith with colorful traditions, illuminating homes, workplaces, and hearts with warmth and kindness. Like here in the US, they also celebrate with fun activities like Secret Santa.

Diwali

Diwali (also known as Deepawali in parts of India) is the Festival of Lights celebrated across India. It symbolizes light overcoming darkness and good defeating evil. With homes aglow from lamps and communities united in the joy of fireworks and sharing sweets, this celebration fosters hope, renewal and connection.

Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela, celebrated in Uttar Pradesh every 144 years, symbolizes faith, unity, and spiritual renewal. Drawing millions of devotees from around the globe, this event revolves around bathing in the confluence of three revered rivers – the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati – to cleanse sins and attain spiritual liberation. What made this Kumbh Mela especially remarkable was its alignment with a rare celestial configuration that occurs only once every 144 years, marking the completion of a 12-year cycle. Over 660 million attendees gathered during the 45-day festival this year, making it the largest human congregation in recorded history.

Employee Spotlights

At the end of the virtual session, our team in Bengaluru recognized employees in the their office who go above and beyond. The spotlights included Ramya Somayaji, a Circle of Excellence award winner and senior manager of data migration; Venkat Sanganal, VP Software Script Engineering; Vanaja Venkaiah, senior director of software engineering; and Keerthi Kakhandaki, senior VP of software engineering.

During our webinar, Venkat shared his inspiring 19-year journey with Applied Systems, beginning with EZLynx in 2005. He spoke about how the team's growth was fueled by a “people first” mindset, a passion for technology, and a deep respect for cultural roots. In India, he noted, festivals and family are more than traditions. They are a source of unity and joy that naturally bonds colleagues together. Celebrations filled with lights, food, and time with loved ones are just as important as achieving professional milestones. By honoring these personal values alongside innovation, Venkat believes the team has cultivated a successful product and a strong, sustainable culture rooted in mutual respect, purpose and connection.

Reflecting on a Journey of Success

As we celebrate almost two decades of success in India and look forward to the road ahead, we feel a sense of pride and anticipation for the opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of insurance technology. We were excited to have the chance to celebrate our India office, the culture of India, and Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as a company. Explore our Life at Applied blog articles for more on culture, diversity, inclusion and belonging at Applied.