Columbia Hindu Temple Holds Fundraiser Concert

July 21, 2006

Source: The Missouran

http://columbiamissourian.com/news/story.php?ID=20724

On July 21, 2006 The Missouran reported, "In its first large-scale fundraiser since it opened in September, the Hindu Temple and Community Center of Mid-Missouri will host a morning concert of classical Indian music by singer Sandhya Pandurangi. Organizers hope that, in addition to raising money for the temple, the event will increase the visibility of Indian culture in Columbia, temple spokesman Gagneesh Rawat said. 'We do say fundraising, but it’s mainly for the community to get together and have a good time,' Rawat said. 'Columbia is a pretty rich community and culture; we want to add to it and make ourselves known.' Pandurangi, a former Columbia resident who now lives in St. Charles, will interpret pieces of classical, semi-classical and folk music from different regions of India. Pandurangi will also play the tanpura, a string instrument, and will be accompanied by Madhu Vora on the harmonium and Anil Datar on the tabla, Indian drums. The concert will start with devotional songs and move on to more secular music. 'We didn’t want this concert to be strictly classical because it would restrict the audience,' said temple member Chandra Chandrasekhar, who helped organize the event. The concert is a form of homecoming for Pandurangi, who was born in Nashik, India, about 120 miles northeast of Mumbai. Her mother, a musician, too, was her first guru, or teacher. Though she lives in St. Charles, Pandurangi said the Columbia temple and its congregation of 75 families are like a 'home away from home' for her."