Bollywood Calling Hollywood
By Laju Shah
July 26, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC: Washingtonians got a bite of Indian glamour and fashion when organizers Manan Katohora and Tejash Natali put together an event called "Bollywood Calling Hollywood" at the The Indian Experience restaurant on July 17, 2010.
This event, which drew in a crowd of a few hundred people was a fundraiser for the South Asian non-profit Sankara Eye Foundation which collects funds to help develop eye care centers in India. With over twenty models, the Comedian Dan Nainan as the MC for the evening, and a variety of fabulous music played by an amazing DJ, this event really was the place to be seen that night.
Tejash Natali, one of the co-organizers of the evening was delighted that his vision of "unity and diversity" of Indian cultures manifested into an evening where models from a variety of ethnic background including Indian, African, Asian and even Eastern European were able to display the lovely Indian outfits created by designer Afsa Zahid. Manan Katohora another organizer said "the beauty of the event was that even though not all the models were professionals, they did an amazing job". "With a lot of hard work, we put together a great show in a short period of time". One model, Alpita Patel traveled with a friend all the way from Philadelphia to take part in the show. When asked why she she had traveled all the way to Washington DC, she said "I believe in the fundraiser and the work of Sankara Eye Foundation. Manan is a friend and I wanted to support his work on this event".
The event, which had over 560 people in attendance raised $1001 for Sankara Eye Foundation. When asked about the allocation of the funds, Manan Katahora stated that free VIP passes were given to local celebrities, community leaders, and decision makers in DC/MD/VA and only 1/3 of all profits were donated to support Sankara Eye Foundation.
Clearly everyone was committed to throwing a fantastic event devoted to raising funds for a great cause and entertaining audiences with a culminating party full of music and fashion.
For more information on Sankara Eye Foundation please visit: www.giftofvision.org
This event, which drew in a crowd of a few hundred people was a fundraiser for the South Asian non-profit Sankara Eye Foundation which collects funds to help develop eye care centers in India. With over twenty models, the Comedian Dan Nainan as the MC for the evening, and a variety of fabulous music played by an amazing DJ, this event really was the place to be seen that night.
Tejash Natali, one of the co-organizers of the evening was delighted that his vision of "unity and diversity" of Indian cultures manifested into an evening where models from a variety of ethnic background including Indian, African, Asian and even Eastern European were able to display the lovely Indian outfits created by designer Afsa Zahid. Manan Katohora another organizer said "the beauty of the event was that even though not all the models were professionals, they did an amazing job". "With a lot of hard work, we put together a great show in a short period of time". One model, Alpita Patel traveled with a friend all the way from Philadelphia to take part in the show. When asked why she she had traveled all the way to Washington DC, she said "I believe in the fundraiser and the work of Sankara Eye Foundation. Manan is a friend and I wanted to support his work on this event".
The event, which had over 560 people in attendance raised $1001 for Sankara Eye Foundation. When asked about the allocation of the funds, Manan Katahora stated that free VIP passes were given to local celebrities, community leaders, and decision makers in DC/MD/VA and only 1/3 of all profits were donated to support Sankara Eye Foundation.
Clearly everyone was committed to throwing a fantastic event devoted to raising funds for a great cause and entertaining audiences with a culminating party full of music and fashion.
For more information on Sankara Eye Foundation please visit: www.giftofvision.org