Corporate Professionals Gather in Fort for Ganpati Aagaman Dhol Performance
Around 50 corporate professionals gathered in Fort last Sunday evening to perform at a Ganpati 'Aagaman' ceremony, trading their weekday office routines for the traditional beats of the Dhol Tasha.
The group, comprising engineers, vice presidents, production managers, and executive assistants from various corporate firms across the city, came together to play the heavy percussion instruments during the festival procession.
Among the performers was Shreenath Anand Vemul, a production manager at an event company residing in Ghatkopar West, who has been playing the dhol for nearly 12 years. Vemul noted that playing the instrument provides a sense of discipline, emotion, and community connection.
Chembur-based Beatrice Dalgado, an executive assistant at a US financial firm who has been involved with the performance art for nearly a decade, explained that playing the dhol helps connect people to cultural traditions. Dalgado performs regularly during major cultural occasions, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, and Gudi Padwa, noting that the activity demands stamina, timing, and teamwork.
Balancing rigorous corporate schedules with intensive weekend rehearsals remains a significant challenge for the performers. Neelesh Vijay Bharankar, a vice president at a global financial and risk advisory firm, established his Dhol Tasha Pathak approximately ten years ago while learning to play the instrument himself. Bharankar noted that over the past decade, weekends once reserved for leisure have transitioned into structured practice sessions, event planning, and street performances with the support of his family.
According to group member Rajat Umesh, the physical demands of carrying and playing the heavy drums require consistent dedication, especially from members who balance demanding schedules at major corporate firms.
For the participants, the street performances serve as a platform where workplace designations and hierarchies give way to synchronized rhythm and cultural celebration.
