Boston Gala 2009

The second annual Pratham Boston Gala was held on 12 September at the Taj Boston.  Highlights of the event, which started at 7 pm and went on until as late as 4 am, included a mesmerizing dance performance by Miss India Worldwide, Nikkitasha Marwaha.  Ms. Marwaha, in a stunning pomegranate-red traditional "sari" performed a fusion dance that involved dramatic movements with a pot balanced on her head.  Before that was another fusion act, a hypnotic performance of music by well known performers, Natraj. Their blend of classical Indian and traditional West African music with a dash of contemporary jazz thrown in held the audience spellbound.  Later, DJ Bunty had everyone dancing to Bollywood music till the wee hours of the morning.

Chitra Banerjee Divakurni, author of the bestsellers, Mistress of Spices and Sister of my Heart, was a special honoree.She urged the audience to give the gift of literacy to the millions of children for whom this is the only road to a reasonable tomorrow.  Madhav Chavan, founder and CEO of Pratham thanked the Boston community for its support and challenged the audience to develop technological solutions to deliver education efficiently at scale.

Attendees included area CEOs, prominent academics, doctors, lawyers, professionals and local Pratham volunteers.  This event raised more than $100,000, of which all profits go directly to Pratham's programs.

View more pictures of the event here.