2020 Celebrations of the Center:

 

Dear Friends: 

                                      HAPPY  GANESH  CHATURTHI
                                     MICHHAMI DUKKADAM TO ALL

Hope all of you are doing fine and keeping yourselves busy. The Center organized two Zoom meetings during the week on August 20 and 22, 2020.

The reports are abbreviated as they were recorded and placed on YouTube. 

1. The August 20 Meeting:

A.  Mr. R. D. Patel’s Presentation:

 

The meeting started with a prayer by Rajesh & Rupaben Dharia. 

Mr. R. D. Patel gave a down-to-earth presentation on મારો સુરજ આથવાની તૈયારીમાં છે (Sunset of my life is on the horizon) which  revved up listeners. Seniors tend to forget the immediate past but remember the glorious days of their childhood and youth. This is natural with aging. Although the sunset may be the same but experienced differently, e.g., a young married couple on a vacation enjoy the લાલિમા of the sunset but an aged person views it as an onset of darkness. Mr. Patel narrated the common thread of reminiscing by seniors as to what they should have done when they were young. His advice was to have soul searching, detach from materialistic life, concentrate on the present and start deleting negative thoughts, come to a neutral position and cultivate positive thinking. Adopt the principle of forget and forgive which will relieve burden from heart. 

Mr. Patel urged seniors to accept realities of old age that they should get habituated to shoulder their own responsibilities, accustomed to nursing homes and not to depend on family members, relatives, friends and community. Try to be healthy and balance your diet. If possible, try to help family members but don’t advise, interfere, or criticize them. Try to maintain your self respect and don’t become victim or prey under emotional situations. 

Mr. Patel recited a poem by Mr. Ravji Patel, referred to the award winning novel The Sky Gets Dark Slowly by Zhou Daxin and a book When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.

Interesting Q&A session followed. Mr. Patel’s lecture of an hour-and-a-half drew a round of applause. He may be contacted at 908 418 3836 for any questions. Mr. patel’s profile is attached.

B. Bollywood Songs:

Mr. Yomesh Jani, professional singer and financial management consultant based in Ahmedabad, entertained seniors with famous Bollywood songs. An avid fan of Kishore Kumar, he unleashed a series of songs including Roop Tera Mastana, Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi, Ek Ajnabi Haseena Se Yu Mulakat Ho Gayi, O Hansini Meri Hansini Kahan Udd Chali, Pyar Diwana Hota Hei, Pyar Manga Hai Tumhin Se Na Inkaar Karo, Chalte Chalte Mere Yeh Geet Yaad Rakhna, among others. 

Viewers applauded Mr. Jani’s performance. 

A Vote of Thanks by Mr. Pradip Parikh. 


2. The August 22 Meeting:

The Dhomne Group’s Program:

The meeting started with a prayer by Pankajbhai, VP, and Varshaben Parikh, EC member.

In order that more members get involved in singing prayer and proposing a vote of thanks, President requested them to come forward and give their names to EC members since an organization flourishes only with the active participation of as many members as possible rather than restricting to just a few. 

A tribute was paid to Mr. Vijay Chivande, 42, a promising musician of the Dhomne Group who passed away in Nagpur, India. Our condolences and sympathies to his family. May God rest his soul in peace. A moment of silence was observed. 

A fantastic two-and-a-half-hour orchestra led by Surabhi & Sachin Dhomne and compered by Dr. Manoj Salpekar on the theme of Ganpati Bapa Morya with excellent backdrops won the hearts of viewers. Accompanying singers and musicians along with the technical support by Rushabh and Mayuresh added glamour to the program. 

The program was sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Mahesh & Urmila Shelat and Mrs. Bhartiben Parikh. Coincidentally, today was Mr. Shelat’s 80th birthday and Mrs. Bhartiben had celebrated her 70th birthday in mid-August. Their pictures along with their families were shown on the screen. Thanks to sponsors. Also, thanks to our member Jyotindrabhai Patel for making beautiful power point presentations. 

 

Khushie, 14, the grand daughter of the Shelats, announced that she collected $6,500 for distributing food to healthcare providers in 10 hospitals. A good job. Congrats!

Describing Ganpati Bapa as a remover of obstacles, Dr. Salpekar prayed for his blessings to face enormous problems caused by the pandemic and hoped that with our collective આસ્થા, શ્રદ્ધા અને વિશ્વાસ, we will overcome hardships. Explaining the meaning of the word “Morya,” he said that it is a Maharastriyan word meaning સામને આવો. In other words, we’re inviting Lord Ganesh again and again. 

The ensemble covered various songs of Ganpati Bapa Morya and other Gods. The program started with a stuti Vakratunda Mahakaya. Viewers enjoyed songs and bhajans such as Mohan Pyare Jago, Jag Mein Sundar Hain Do Nam, Chaahe Krishna Kaho Ya Ram, Jay Ma Bhavani, Meri Bhakti Mein Rang BharJao, Madhu Van Mein Radhika Nache Re, Heere Motise Nahi  hei shobha, Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram, Kabhi Ram Banke Kabhi Shyam Banke Chale Aana, Govinda Aala Re Aala, Govind Bolo Gopal Bolo, Hare Ram Hare Krishna, with the Aarti of Jay Ganesh Jay Ganesh Deva. 

The August birthdays and wedding anniversaries were celebrated with beautiful songs by singers accompanied by viewers. 

A Vote of Thanks by Pankajbhai