By Poulomi Ghosh
Source: Kolkata Mirror
Rupa Bera, Shakila Khatun and Jhuma Maitra. They are some of the lot who could not see the assembled crowd at Kalamandir on December 15. But the crowd did not miss any opportunity to cheer for these little talents in a pre-Christmas programme ‘Christmas in Calcutta’, organised by all the staff, students and children of Mercy Hospital. This year the programme entered its third year.
“We are like a big family with a number of schools for blinds, orphans and training institutes for nurses. We treat lakhs of thalassemia patients every year. This is an event to get them altogether and enjoy the spirit of the Lord,” said Sanjay Prasad, CEO (chief executive officer) of Mercy Hospital.
While the nursing staff rocked the floor with their dance, the blind children left everyone spell bound with their concert. “Christmas brings in a feeling of joy and we have tried to capture this feeling in different ways,” said the host of the show, before a group of children entered the stage with the tune of Chak de India and spread euphoria to the hearts of the audience.
Aradhna, the US based band of this hospital carried forward the ‘nice feel’ of the event through their Christ-centred bhajans. Four young musicians Peter, Daniel, Fiona and Chris founded the band in 2000 and traveled across the world to spread this genre of music. “But we are surprised to see the talent of these young children who cannot even see. We often feel that we are bringing blessings through our devotional music, but after seeing these children I feel that I am blessed,” said Peter.