Support-A-Child Fundraiser September 21, 2018

World Hindu Council of America’s (VHPA), Boston & Merrimac Valley chapters arranged an evening of an enchanting blend of Indian Dance, Music, and Jugalbandi to benefit their star Project Support-A-Child (SAC) on Friday, September 21, 6:30 PM, at Scottish Rite Masonic Museum, Lexington. This event was adorned by Pre Grammy nominated Music Maestro Santoor player Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya and Internationally Celebrated Odissi Dancer and Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya. They were accompanied by Jyotirmoy Roy Chowdhury on Tabla, and Trishita Nandi, a budding young Odissi dancer.

SAC is a leading project of VHPA since its inception in 1985. This project is specifically designed to support underprivileged children in India. Through this program, children receive quality education, housing, nutritious food and health care.  SAC has supported thousands of children selected anywhere from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in India in the last 33 years, many are orphans and many come from very poor background. The amazing outcome of this program shows that a large number of students have gone to do higher studies and many of these children are now working as teachers, engineers, doctors and other professionals.

A video show was arranged to familiarize the audience about the SAC and how it works and highlighted the amazing outcomes of the program. Shree Sanjay Kaul explained how they involve sponsor with the program and also earnestly requested the sponsor to visit the VHPA website at http://boston.vhp-america.org/ for more information and how they can support this noble cause. Few sponsors (Dr. Charu Patel & Dr. Inder Kaul) shared their reason for being involved with such noble cause and some other sponsors’ children (Ananya Sharma, Akul Misra and Yashna Sadhu) also shared their feelings about their parents’ charity work and expressed their desire of taking part in such activities when they grow up. At the same time, they urged all the audiences to come forward to support the needy children to brighten up their future and shine India in the world.

The second part of the program included Santoor play by maestro Pt Tarun Bhattacharya, tabla pakhawaj tabla, Shree Khol and percussion accompaniment by Jyotirmoy Roy Chowdhury on Tabla. He played some popular Raagas of choice which extrapolated with colorful creative rendition blooming into beautiful fast paced crescendo.

The last enthralling segment of the program was much applauded because it has the main stream 100+ very successful prestigious international concerts to its credit. The Grand finale included the unique extempore Jam session of Santoor and Odissi dance with tabla, pakhawaj tabla, shree khol and percussion accompaniment. All the artistes who were present on stage involved themselves in the live musical conversation. This portion was very spontaneous, unplanned, and at the same time, challenging and heart bouncingly interesting, with all the audience sharing the captivating and thrilling atmosphere with the artistes. This part displayed the themes such as a) storytelling through music and dance, b) musical question answer session and musical challenges, c) syncopated movements, d) Improvised dialogues between the musicians and the dancer with thrilling climax.

Smt. Mahalakshmi Pula ‘MC'ed the event very brilliantly. Shree Sanjay Kaul proposed vote of thanks on this memorable occasion to the audiences for coming in large numbers to support the good cause of VHPA and making this program a grand success. He thanked the chief guests of the event and sponsors for their valuable contribution and gracing this occasion by their very presence. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the artists for their wonderful performances. He also thanked media agencies: India New England Multi Media, Lokvani, Gunjan Radio (Bipin Parakh), Radio Music India (Pradeep Shukla). He took this opportunity to thank the Management team of Scottish Rite Masonic Museum for making this facility available for our event. He recognized and thanked the audio visual engineer Paul Terrasi & his associate Derek. He thanked the two photographers: Bob Lenord; Priyanka Jaiswal for capturing the all proceedings of the event. For the food that was served tonight was made possible by MINERVA RESTURANT. Finally, he also proposed his heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers for their time and hard work behind the screen. He also thanked all the VHPA executive committee members and well-wishers, for stewardship, support, vision, and commitment.

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