Beating their way to spread happiness

535-member Sriram Pathak group is now on Facebook to help people facing personal or financial problems. ‘One for all, and all for one’ is how one could describe the Sriram Pathak group with

535 dhol, tasha, jhanj players. Being connected through Facebook. They aim to provide help to those facing any kind of difficulties. Mahesh Sheth, Vilas Shigwan, Sanjay Nene, Prasad

Lavgankar, Nachiket Phadke and Rahul Bora are  the key members of the team. Sriram Pathak was started 15 years ago with about 25 like-minded youths coming together and exhibiting their

skills of playing traditional instruments, which has now gone up to 535 and includes people from all walks of life and from various income groups. Sheth told _DNA_, “Changing with the times,

Sriram Pathak has started its Facebook account and more than 350 members are connected to each other regularly. A detailed database of all the members including occupation, blood group,

birth date and other details has been compiled. The Pathak has highly educated software engineers, MD, LLB, MBA and students. Some businessmen, including a handful of builders, are also our

members.” Sheth said, “The database is aimed at reaching out to the needy during crisis.”    The Pathak or troupe has more than 75 software professionals, and being in this line, they helped

us compile the database of members, so that the Pathak can chip in during any kind of calamity, family issues or mishaps. Sriram Pathak has 300 dhol players, 100 tasha players and 50 jhanj

players, while the remaining members take care of management and related aspects. The Sriram Pathak exhibits its skills every year during Ganeshotsav for revered mandals such as Jogeshwari

Mandal, Kesariwada Ganapati, Bhau Rangari Mandal and Jilabya Maruti Mandal. Sheth said, “Sriram Pathak won the third prize in the statewide competition for dhol-tasha troupes organised by

Zee Channel two years ago. Besides Ganeshotsav, annual blood donation camp, trekking to historic forts, annual gathering of members with families, Kojagiri Poornima celebrations are the

regular events in the calendar of Sriram Pathak. All the members from Shaniwar Peth, Sadashiv Peth and Narayan Peth areas are at faraway places including Nigdi, Kondhwa, Katraj, Nagar Road,

Khed-Shivapur and Sinhgad Road. However, we make it a point to attend the daily practice session held at Navin Marathi School near Shinde Paar.” The Pathak is famous for its Shiv Chhatrapati

Taal, besides its 25 different taals, which make any listener dance to their tunes. The practice for Ganeshotsav is held 45 days prior to the festival. Sheth said that this year the Pathak

will be donating Rs21,000 to a hostel for students from northeastern states. “An activist working in the North East will be delivering lectures on Saturday and Sunday at Naveen Marathi

School, during which this sum would be handed over.” The Pathak also  donates money to Jankalyan Samiti, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Jankalyan Blood Bank and other social organisations.