Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar organised the concluding chapters of the Matru Vandana series at Leicester and Preston over the 7th and 8th April weekend.
Matru Vandana, co-organised by Vasant Bhakta in Leicester was set up at Shri Lohana Mahajan Hall on the 7th April, 2017.
Revered singer Maya Dipak was flown down from India to delight the audiences with an evening of sugam sangeet in her versatile, distinguished and melodious voice. She was accompanied by musicians Anant Patel on keyboard, Naushad on the tabla and Mina Patel was on the manjira and khanjari during all the events.
Trained in Hindustani Classical, Maya is a famed artist in Gujarat and has been honoured with Gaurav Puraskar from the Gujarat government for her contributions to the field of vocals for Sugam Sangeet.
Like the events in London, Barking and Birmingham, Maya paid tribute to mothers through Sugam Sangeet and old Hindi film songs. Her songs were themed on the special bond shared between the mother and child.
She also focussed on the importance of the girl child.
Bhakta (Mr B) thanked Sabras Radio, Vajubhai Madhlani and Committee members of Shri Lohana Mahajan Hall, Radias Supersotres and Viren Patel – for helping out with the Sound System. He also helped our volunteers Jayendra Gohil, Manhar Patel, Pravin Morzaria and Thakor Prajapati.
The Gujarat Hindu Society co-organised Matru Vandana in Preston on the 8th April. Around 250 people attended the concluding event that evoked tears from the audiences, moved by Maya Dipak's astounding performance. She received a standing ovation from the audience and they demanded her to come again to perform at Preston.
Inaugural lamps were lit by CB Patel, Ishewar Tailor, Dashrathbhai Nayee, President of the Hindu Council North and Maya Dipak.
It was the eve of our Editor CB Patel's 80th birthday and a small celebration was organised on the stage. The Head Pandit chanted mantras and blessed him and the President of the Gujarat Hindu Society, Ishwar Tailor gifted CB with a customised card, signed by the key committee members.
A scrumptious Gujarati dinner was laid out for the guests; Ishwar conveyed his gratitude to Kamalkant Parikh of RK sweets for sponsoring the foods for the event.
Ishwar Tailor was thankful to CB Patel and his team for their constant support towards the Gujarat Hindu Society, Chandrakant Limbachia for helping out with the sound system and for planning the event and the Committee members and volunteers of the event.
Matru Vandana has been a super-hit event in all the five locations – London, Barking, Birmingham, Leicester and Preston. After a standing ovation from the audience at Preston, there were demands for organising a similar event for Father's Day – Pitru Vandana, in June.
