HMM Hosts Ras Barase

HOUSTON: Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM) hosted “Ras Barase…” concert on 20th July at 4:00 PM at Durga Bari Auditorium in Houston.  “Ras Barase…” is a theme based two hours scripted show, written by a famous writer/music composer – Pravin Joshi from Pune. The show has a variety of famous and catchy Hindi-Marathi songs which flows through the stream of “Navarasa”.  This event is organized by HMM Member Shreyas and Manasi Bedekar along with other notable HMM Members and Artists.

Shreyas Bedekar is a resident of Houston who was selected as a finalist for the SA-RE-GA-MA-PA contest at 2013 BMM Convention. In 1999, Shreyas also performed in Zee TV – SA RE GA MA in India.

Ras Barase event was definitely a house full and a super hit show! People danced, whistled and stayed focused for 2.5 hrs.  Attendees commented that they did not even realize when the event ended.  At one point, it just felt that India’s great freedom fighters were in the room when the artists effectively sang a famous patriotic song.  Some people shouted slogans of Inquilab Zindabad when the song ended.

Thanks to all enthusiastic audience for attending this event. The anchoring, stage effects, songs all just came together very well.  HMM thanked all the following artists including, Shreyas Bedekar (Program Organization, Singer, Chorus, and Harmonium), Omkar Deshpande (Singer and Chorus), Amit Bhagwat (Singer and Tabla), Jayendra Prabhukhot (Tabla and Dholak), Ambrish Prabhukhot (Piano, Sound effects and Harmonium), Mohan Ketkar (Side Rhythms), Amol Ganpate (Guitar and Chorus), Akshay Deshpande (Nivedan), Manasi Joshi (Program Organization, Nivedan).

HMM specially thanked Omkar Deshpande who took the time to perform for HMM from New Jersey. Omkar Deshpande, one of the singers in “Ras Barase…” concert, is a well rounded vocalist. He was a finalist of Indian Idol season 1 and was a favorite among the judges.

The past Mayor of Dombivali, Mumbai Shree. Patwari, HMM Member Sindhutai Hardikar, and HMM President Megha Ozarker congratulated the artists for their efforts and hard work.  All artists were presented with a beautiful hand-made “Man Patra” prepared by Vaibhavi Kotnis.  HMM front desk operations team, Aditya Raje, Koushik Gumaste, Kumud Deshpande and Gajanan Borikar along with Megha Ozarker and Yogesh Dalvi were able to check in the 300 attendees very quickly.  Isha Amte and Savita Kale along with several volunteers including Anil and Smita Gokahle, Ankoor Sonawane were able to serve delicious food items from Vishala Restaurant.  Devina Kirloskar single handedly took care of the stage lighting while Suyash Gadkari, Chaitrali Alegaonkar, and Ravi Ozarker took care of the audio visuals.  Rajesh Thatte and Rohan Patil took extremely nice photographs of this event.

Some of these photographs can be seen on HMM website http://www.hmmhouston.org/