Washington, D.C. — A U.S.-based nonprofit organization of Marathi mothers marked the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti with a sold-out cultural event in California’s Bay Area, blending traditional rituals, conversation, and community fundraising, with Indian film actor Ashvini Bhave as the featured guest.
The Marathi Aai Initiative (MAI) hosted the Haldi-Kunku celebration on January 11 through its Bay Area chapter, drawing more than 100 women for an evening centered on cultural identity, motherhood, and shared experiences within the Indian diaspora, according to a media release issued Sunday.
Participants were welcomed with traditional haldi-kunku rituals and a ceremonial vaan brought from India, while the venue was designed to resemble a traditional Marathi courtyard. Organizers said the setting was intended to evoke familiarity and cultural continuity for attendees living far from home.
The highlight of the program was a moderated, informal conversation with Bhave, who spoke about motherhood, staying rooted in Marathi values, and raising children across cultures. The discussion was followed by photographs and informal interactions over a community-style dinner.
The event also featured a fashion showcase in which community members walked the ramp wearing black sarees styled in both traditional and contemporary ways. Presented in partnership with sponsoring saree brands, the segment focused on everyday women and aimed to reflect cultural pride and confidence among mothers balancing family and professional lives in the United States.
“Ashvini Tai brought extraordinary grace, depth, and warmth into the room,” said Sayli Natu, co-founder of MAI. She said the interaction created a “genuine, mother-to-mother connection” and transformed admiration for the actor into a shared community experience.
Another co-founder, Kshitija Karmarkar, said the organization is built on the belief that culture is sustained through shared, lived experiences. She added that the rituals, conversations, and the cause supported during the evening brought that belief to life and added meaning to a gathering rooted in community and continuity.
MAI is a national nonprofit organization that connects Marathi-raised mothers through cultural programs, shared dialogue, and community-led experiences, supporting families in the American diaspora while working to preserve cultural values across generations. (Source: IANS)
