The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), Boston Chapter hosted an exciting contribution program for the funding of its non-profit project, Support-A-Child (SAC) on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, Andover, MA. This project provides a gift of education (up to high school), boarding, lodging, medical care and Samskara (values) to the children of under privileged background from different parts of Bharat. Majority of the victims of social ill are from lower income group families and are girls. So, sponsors are also given an opportunity to strengthen girls through support a Child (daughter) option.

The program stated after the meet and greet social hour with light snacks and tea. The chief guests of the program, Dr. Gokul Dwaraknath, Dr. Shshi Dwaraknath and Dr. Manju Sheth lighted the lamp and addressed the audiences. Jaya Asthana welcomed the audiences to the program and gave a brief introduction of the theater and theme of the show. Later, Manasvini Pujar carried on the event very diligently as MC of the evening.

Dhaatu Puppet Theater from Bangalore, India presented a Puppet and Dance Musical Show – A Broadway style entertaining performance, “MalaviKagniMitram” a famous play (Romantic Comedy) by the renowned playwright Mahakavi Kalidas. The play involves romantic relationship of King Agnimitra of the Vidisha kingdom, belonging to the Shunga dynasty of the second century with Malavika, who is an unheard humble maid in the royal palace. We see in play harem jealousies and court intrigues mingle to raise romantic situations of love, amusing scenes of confrontation. Finally, the love affair successfully ends up in King Agnimitra winning Malavika as his wife and queen with the help of his minister Vidushaka. Kalidasa's skill in creating dramatic love situations and plots is beyond doubt. The show consisted of classical arts of music and dance along with a unique string puppet production with a live dancer as Malavika.

This show was directed by Anupama Hoskere very cleverly and professionally with commentary in English for each scene. Divya Hoskere is stunning dancer, her beautifully expressive face clearly announced a character’s feelings or intent while her body easily shifts through complicated rhythms and balances cleverly. Audiences just stuck their eyes at the rhythmic drop of her reinforce, and the shuttling of her eyes. Audiences and children enjoyed this mesmerizing show very much by paying standing ovation to the artists and their team members.

Sanjay Kaul Ji, National Voice president, World Hindu Council of America proposed vote of thanks to all the performers Anupama Hoskere, Divya Hoskere, puppeteers: Mythili Shikarpur, Chitra Rao, Srivatsa B. R. (Light Engineer. He thanked VHPA’s team members namely Kaushik Patel, President, Boston; Mona Khaitan, President, Naveda, Pramod Panday, SAC Program Director, and Brijesh Sharma, SAC Coordinator and other SAC members. He thanked local volunteers, Jagdish Tewari, and Neeraj Deswal for transporting and hosting the artists locally along with their photographers Neeraj Deswal, Geetha Patil, and Kaushik Patel. Last but not least, he thanked all the supporters who came forward to support more than 125 children.

“Dhaatu Puppet Theater’s performance displayed a rigorous commitment to refining their practice, showing the difference between executing, or even mastering, scenes and articulating every part of the play like a real life drama” â€“ said one of the audiences.

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