Jai Mahesh Jai Shri Krishna,
Despite the ongoing troubles with the Covid-19 pandemic, the MMUK team with everyone’s participation together pulled off a spectacular Digital Mahesh Navmi event, bringing together our Maheshwari Parivar all across the UK. We rejoiced in the origins of Maheshwaris as one big family over Zoom and Facebook Live, enjoying the incredible talents our community has to offer. There was an overwhelming level of participation: over 50 families joined our celebration of culture, dance and music through 30+ entries. Let us take this opportunity to run you through our programme and leave you stunned with the phenomenal talent we have on display:
The event was started by anchor Amartya Maheshwari of Birmingham, who is currently studying at Cambridge University.
To inaugurate our auspicious event, we invited the parents of Shri Pravinji Soni from Midland Chapter, Shri Jugalkishorji Soni and Sow. Pushpaji Soni to perform the Deep Prajvalan and Aarti. Samraat Sonee, Age7 beautifully accompanied this by beautifully singing the Mahesh Vandana which he learnt during this time of quarantine.
President and Treasurer Words
This was then followed by the President’s words. MMUK President Ramnareshji Sonee informed us on developments in MMUK and specially the charity work undertaken by MMUK in collaboration with RAUK and The Akshaya Patra Foundation to serve Covid-19 affected across the UK.
MMUK is now recognized as a charity organisation with the Charity commission UK which is a huge milestone achieved after long and hard work towards it. This means, as Deepakji Kabra (Treasurer) explained, that we can work full speed towards our long term charitable goals. This would not have been possible without the present and past MMUK team’s daunting work.
As this family grows we also want to think of continuation and a succession plan. To this a new Whatsapp group “MMUK Youth Connect” has been launched recently. This group will be run and organized by MMUK Youth’s ( 12 to 25yrs old) and will be key in supporting and organizing events in future. We want to ask all parents to encourage their children in the aforementioned age group to join this group.
The MMUK Youth Group has already started its active participation and was certainly shown by the youth who sent a wide variety of bubbly talents, dances and acts.
Firstly we had all our Maheshwaris stand up and pay respects to our beloved country singing along to Samraat Sonee’s sweetly sung National Anthem.
Then, it was over to reporter Tarun Naodhar who interviewed our adorable MMUK Kids to give their cute and cheeky comments on the Corona Virus pandemic.
Little Feet, Little Hands & Family Fun
- Khush Jajoo & Yashay Maheshwari – Fun Time – Brent
- Atharv Bang – Tricks & Tips – Ilford
- Anika, Arika, Sarikji & Praveenji Kabra – Scotland
- 5 Songs Medley on Piano by Mridul Karnany
- Lokeshji Chechani, Family Fun – Harrow
- Preetiji Mutha & Family – Coventry
- Mohta Family – Liverpool
- Kapilji Maheshwari & Family – Bushy
- Daga Family Fun – Leeds
- Mehika Bajaj – Food-aholic TikTok fun – Harrow
This was followed by some energetic extempore dances by the kids – full potential for future choreographer here! The TikToks, music and magic performances were also full of energy, inspiration and laughs as the kids showed off their quarantine escapades.
https://youtu.be/lIQPuJDnHYY – Hanuman Chalisa
Special mention to Mayank Jagetia for an impressive, non-stop Hanuman Chalisa which the Zoom viewers sung along to melodiously (for most parts :))
https://youtu.be/5q9P4PxP2dY – MMUK Youth Connect
Then it was MMUK Youth’s time to shine – From art to barbeques to acrobats – every talent you can think of was on display and it really shows that while this pandemic may have closed some doors there’s always the opportunity to learn and do new things. Special thanks to Lokeshji Chechani and Nimai Jajoo for spending hours behind the screen and editing all these videos into one big compilation.
https://youtu.be/PKv6Awrx6Xk – Bhavikaji Soni
https://youtu.be/kdXaVm6a5Gk – Rejutaji Jeswan
By this point the crowd was already star-struck by the enthusiasm and talent on offer. Now add on another beautiful dance by Bhavika Soni & Rejuta Jeswan
https://youtu.be/wN-3_Tafi9k – Meghaji Zavar – Sitar and a soul-touching rendition of Ghoomar on the Sitar by Meghaji Zavar. These performances left us extremely excited to see what we, the MMUK Youth and Kids and do in the future to push the boundaries of MMUK.
https://youtu.be/MEOas-H49-I Dineshji Sodani
https://youtu.be/dNNKDppOl2M Rahulji Naodhar
Adults didn’t fail to impress either. While Dineshji Sodani and Rahulji Naodhar poetically conveyed the bittersweet “troubles” during these last couple of months, others chose to channel their inner Prabhu Deva through creative, exciting family dances in their kitchens and living rooms.
https://youtu.be/IyrkrcJEQCo – MMUK Girls – Dance it Away – Brent & Harrow. MMUK Girls in particular stole the show with their quarantine collab on “Kudi Nu Nachne De” leaving the audience jaw-dropped. The Tiktok grind did not stop as MMUK took the stage to try and become Tiktok Famous with their Oh Na Na Challenges.
https://youtu.be/ulnitlH718E – Surajji Rathi – Cutest Prank – Greenwich. The cutest prank by Surajji Rathi on his adorable daughter by shaving off his entire beard (10/10 for commitment to the video) and pretending to take her away.
https://youtu.be/ulIfE2TGIDU – Mehika Bajaj – Food-aholic TikTok fun by Mehika Bajaj
https://youtu.be/btvohQrwoVI – Sumitraji Dargar – Quilling Art
Sumitra ji Dargar blew the audience away with the Quilling Art she produced during quarantine, from Rakhis to Ganeshji to a Peacock. can only imagine the time and effort behind each piece of art, so hats off to Sumitraji! We also had some breathtaking art pieces to further emphasize the buckets of talent we have within our Maheshwari community.
https://youtu.be/btvohQrwoVI – Aparnaji Bang – Love for Drawing & Paintings
https://youtu.be/II7qHWuNfSo Paintings by Reenaji jagetia, Ayansh Jagetia, Age 3, Mayank Jagetia, Age 9, Mehika Bajaj, Swatiji Bhatti Maheshwari, Vanne Maheshwari & Vachan Maheshwari, Age 10
https://youtu.be/ZC6buoMqSA8 – Housie Cricket
We also had a brilliant 20-20 Housie where more than 15 Maheshwari families came together with their creative team names to showcase the camaraderie and sporting spirit within our community to raise money towards a charitable cause.
https://youtu.be/PLJrCW7ELIY – Dhwani Band
Finally, to finish off our Digital Mahesh Navmi in style and elegance, we had the incredible group Dhwani performing heart-touching songs and bhajans from India brought to MMUK by Arunji Mundra from Houston as a beautiful surprise. When we say incredible, we don’t give them enough credit – being able to make every Zoom participant 5000 miles away hum and sing along to a computer screen – unbelievable! Their retro remixes and acapellas in particular were beautiful and we can’t wait to see them perform live soon at a future MMUK event.
Before signing off, Dineshji Sodani heartily expressed his vote of thanks. Whole team did an incredible job in adapting to the difficult circumstances and taking the initiative to bring together over 150 people on such a special day for our community. Our participants too made the most of the Zoom and Facebook Live chat in making it a light-hearted, warm evening.
Again a big thanks to all participants, volunteers, committee members who made this event possible in short timelines.
Article written by Amartya Maheshwari & Edited by Team MMUK
