Asmita Program - Diwali Pahaat – 28th Oct. 2008

We organised, for the very first time in our club, a family get together of a different kind. We generally arrange family nights but this time we decided to think “jaraa hatke” and converted it to Family Dawn. Diwali festival was the perfect backdrop for this idea to materialise. So we organised a Diwali Pahaat (Dawn) function with a musical entertainment for the audience. It was a second day of Diwali, a Laxmi Poojan day.

The hall was decorated with traditional rangoli, aakash kandils, panatis and silver lamps. On the eve of the function, Sadhana Vaze, Dipti Gokhale, Bhavana Vaishampayan and Shubhangi Deshpande took immense efforts for the decoration and other arrangements. Dilip Gokhale and Dilip Vaishampayan also helped them. Next day, the program was scheduled for 7am in the morning.

We had invited a musical troupe of Tabla maestro Suhas Chitale to perform. His name was suggested by Pramod Ambekar. The artists were present in the hall at 6am and were getting ready with their instruments and riyaaz. We had invited our DG Bansi Dhurandhar and Dr. Surekha for this occasion, who arrived on-dot at 7.30am and the program started.

The atmosphere was really charged up and everyone was eager for the musical treat. Pres. Sanjay welcomed the guests, performing artists and informed the audience about the program. The proceedings were then handed over to comperor, Vighnesh Joshi.

The program started with Ganesh Vandana by Gautam Murdheshwar, a well known artist and finalist of famous TV show SaReGaMaPa. It set the perfect tone for the musical treat to follow. It was followed by melodious abhang Indrayani Kaathi Devachi Aalandi, Pratham Tuj paahata, Tere sur aur mere geet, Aai meri johara jabeen etc., sung by Mahesh Saarmandali and Kalyani Joshi. Vighnesh Joshi’s commentary was perfect and sometimes humorous too that kept audience captivated. Entire auditorium was enthralled with the performance of these artists and enjoyed every moment of it. All good things come to an end and so did this Pahaat was over by the Bhairavi delivered by all artists.

The music lovers’ emotional and psychological appetite was fully satisfied by these artists and it was now the time to satisfy their belly needs. The program was followed by a sumptuous breakfast comprising of Diwali pharaal of Laddu, Chakalis, Chivda, Wet coconut karanji, Medu vada sambar and Daal pakwaan. Everyone relished the breakfast and it was unanimously decided to continue this tradition of Diwali Pahaat in the years to come.

Entire program was sponsored by Kumar Kewalramani, Sadhana Vaze, Sanjay Deshpande and partly by TBZ Jewellers.

Diwali Celebration at Mental Hospital,Thane

Rotary Club of Thana West celebrated Diwali with inmates of Mental Hospital, Thane.

This is our ongoing project which we do every Diwali. There are 3 units with 5 wards each for male section and 2 units with 5 wards each for female section. All these wards alongwith their resp. staff members take part in the Best Ward competition. We judge these wards on the basis of ward cleanliness, ward decoration, ward participation, patient cleanliness & patient participation. There is always a tremendous enthusiasm amongst staff members and patients for this event. Few of the wards really go out of the way and decorate the wards beautifully, stage some songs and dramas, build castles, display posters and greeting cards. We go around all these wards and interact with them. We then judge them and give marks.

They are given prizes in the end which they cherish for the year to come. This year we gave them 30 earthen pots for drinking water storage and rangoli, papers, colours etc. for ward decorations.

R/Ann Snehal Deshpande, R/Annet Adwait Deshpande, Manjusha Muley, Sadhana Vaze, Hemant Divekar, Dr. Mahesh Parekh, Suchit Gadakari, Kumar Kewalramani and Sanjay Deshpande participated in the project.