‘Dandiya Dhoom with Dandiya Queen Falguni Pathak’ by UPMA

Ritu Maheshwari
India Post News Service

Santa Clara, CA: Uttar Pradesh Mandal of America (UPMA) organized ‘Dandiya Dhoom 2022 with Falguni Pathak’ at Santa Clara Convention Center on September 10th and 11th.

The event surpassed all expectations, as this year boasted a record crowd each night. Held at the venue made for a perfect place for families and friends to gather and enjoy dance as well as an array of cultural food, kids’ activities, shopping, and music.

The musical performance by Falguni Pathak for the event was authentic and community members danced the nights away to traditional tunes as well as hit Bollywood numbers.

Falguni Pathak, her manager Sheetal and all other artists were very enthusiastic and supportive. Audience enjoyed the first opening dandiya event of 2022 dandiya season. The Best timing, the best artist and best place, with great decoration, great food. It was an amazing event. People were raving about the awesome experience they had at the event.

UPMA Team included Nilu Gupta (Founding Chairperson UPMA), Ritesh Tandon (Vice Chairperson UPMA), Jyoti Kaushal (President – over all In charge to execute the grand show), Ritesh Patel (Board Member-Marketing), Gurpreet Tuteja (Board Member, Registration lead and event coordinator), Ruchika Rastogi (Board Member Artist Care Management), Ankush Jain (Board Member, Artist Care and Transport arrangements), Manish Parmar (EC Member-Puja and Prasad Team Management), Lata Malviya (Dandiya resourcing and sale and all financial management), Manju Mishra (Board Member – Volunteers/ VIP and Media management)

UPMA recognized and thanked all core team members and volunteers contributing time and effort towards the event without which the event would not have been a major success.Rakesh Danger was a great resource to bring many young volunteers to help to manage a mega show. RJ Sunita Raj was Judge for the multiple contests at Dandiya Dhoom. Sunita Raj is the Founder, Artistic Director of Sun Bollywood. She is a talented choreographer, dance instructor, and performer with extensive training in Bollywood, Semi-Classical, Raas Garba, Folk, and Modern dance styles.

Winners list:

For Sep 10th –

1. Ruchir Gandhi, Fremont – Best Dressed Male
2. Sagar Shah, Milpitas – Best Male dancer
3. Anjali Popat, Fremont – Best Female Dancer
4. Harshil and Richa Jhaveri, Emeryville – Best Dressed Couple
5. Jigna Faria, Fremont – Best Dress, Female
6. Krisha Patel, Sunnyvale – Best Dress Kid
7. Hunter James, Santa Clara – Special Recognition
8. Janak Kacharia, Pleasanton – Best Senior Citizen Dancer

For Sep 11th –

1. 1. Best Dressed Female- Darshana Borad
   2. Best Dressed Male – Bhargav Patel
   3. Best Dress Male – Ashwin Jha
   4. Best Dressed Kid – Ziva Ketan Patel – Fremont
   5. Best Family – Niyati Parikh, Jay shah, Akita shah
   6. Enthusiastic Senior Couple – Asha Dave, Mukesh Dave
   7. Best Female Dancer – Krupali Shroff
   8. Best Male Dancer: Shashank Phalke

UPMA thanked Falguni Pathak and team, the awesome audience, Instant Karma, and volunteers as their strong support has enabled UPMA to be able to help underprivileged kids back home in India to have basic education and a happy & safe childhood.

UPMA currently provides elementary and secondary school education to 103 children aged 7-12 years at Saidham in Bundelkhand and has set up ten daycare centers for 400 children aged 3-6 years in tribal villages around Chitrakoot. The team expects to double these numbers in 2021.UPMA has virtually no overhead nor administrative costs; almost every penny goes to the cause of the children’s education. For more information visit UPMAglobal.org