Meet Prakash Kalpathi and Neela Sivaraman and their daughters Manasi Prakash (21) and Mythri Prakash (17). Prakash is from a southern India state, Kerala, and Neela is from the bordering state of Tamil Nadu. The family has lived in The Highlands since 2016. Manasi just graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelors of Science in Clinical Psychology, and is planning on attending graduate school. Mythri is a rising senior at Metea Valley High School. Let's get to know them!

Do you have pets? We have a 5-year-old Lhasa Apso named Bheem. He is named after an Indian cartoon character our girls loved, Chotta Bheem. He is known for his strength and powers. Given how small Bheem is, we named him to be a little bit of an oxymoron. He is our neighborhood mascot and loves visiting our fellow Highlands neighbors and running in Birmingham Park with all his dog friends.  Bheem is not the most active or energetic dog, but he loves his treats and belly rubs. His favorite food is Indian rotis! He is always excited to meet new people, so if you see him outside, stop and say hi!

Where did you go to school, and what are your professions? Neela attended the University of Madras back in India, where she received her Masters in Econometrics. Prakash attended Marathwada University back in India as well. Neela works as a Revenue Cycle Manager for the University of Chicago, and Prakash is a software engineer working as a consultant.

How did you both meet? We both come from traditional families and our marriage was arranged by our parents.

Tell us about Manasi and Mythri and their hobbies and interests. Our youngest, Mythri, has been a competitive dancer with Steps Dance Center for the past 9 years. She does a variety of styles, including jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and lyrical. She has also been a part of Metea Valley Orchesis for the past three years, and will be a Rehearsal Director for them for the upcoming year. Our oldest, Manasi, recently graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Clinical Psychology. She is very passionate about making healthcare accessible to everyone and is currently working with Hearts for the Homeless International to launch a menstrual health program in Sri Lanka. She is looking forward to a future in healthcare.

Does you have any family traditions? One of our favorite family traditions is a nine day festival in the fall called Navaratri. It celebrates the nine-day battle and victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.  During the nine days, we set up a flight of five stairs decorated with various religious gods. We invite all of our friends and family over to celebrate over the nine days, dressing up, eating traditional food, and singing songs together. It is the largest event of the year, and one of our favorite times to celebrate.

What activities and hobbies do you enjoy? We are a huge family of walkers! We will take an evening walk every day and love to stay active. We even did a 26-mile walkathon a few years ago. Prakash enjoys golfing and discussing politics, both Indian and American. He loves listening to classical Indian music and Western music as well. His favorite artists are Adele, Michael Jackson, and George Michael. I enjoy growing plants, our house is overflowing with how many I have. I also enjoy creative outlets like knitting, crocheting, and tatting. Mythri likes hanging out with her friends, going to the gym and listening to music. Her current favorite artists are Travis Scott, Drake, and Daniel Ceasar.  Manasi is very outdoorsy, hence why she chose Florida for undergrad. She loves to run, paddle board, or spend a day at the beach. She is a huge theme park lover, especially Universal and Disney. She loves working with children and works as a teaching assistant at Aurora Montessori, her alma mater.

What are your favorite restaurants and food types? Our family loves Maggianos, it is our go to spot for any celebration. Our girls are obsessed with Blue Sushi, they love the wide variety of vegan sushi options available there! Recently, we’ve been loving Jeni’s Brambleberry Crisp ice cream as well.

What do you like to do for fun or to relax? We enjoy spending time with our neighbors. We can always count on them for a good laugh. We like taking hikes together and exploring new trails. Our favorite so far has been one in the Orlando Wetlands. We are a movie family and enjoy watching movies together. Our favorite family movies are any of the Harry Potter movies, Marvel movies, or The Sound of Music.

What is your favorite vacation destination or family trip? We love going on cruises and traveling to new countries to experience new places. We recently traveled to Europe and fell in love with London. We loved the ambiance and hope to go back for a longer trip soon.

How are you involved in the community? We are very active in The Highlands community events. We help organize the annual Diwali party at the clubhouse to bring our community together.

What is your favorite part about living in Stonebridge? Our favorite part would have to be the people and the community we are part of. Our neighborhood is so warm and welcoming. We couldn’t imagine life anywhere else!