For family and community
WORK might often get the better of Veesham Maharaj but he ensures he sets aside two days a year – New Year’s Eve and the Vodacom Durban July – for himself and his family. And those cannot be interrupted.
“The first is best spent with your loved ones,” he said. “Even if I were offered millions of rands, I would never budge and do something without them.
“The other is the Durban July because I love horses and I love the races.”
His wife, Eshara, who was within earshot, said when Maharaj was not preparing for an upcoming Showtime Promotions event, he could be found deep in thought in his home-based office.
“Over the years, Veesham has done a lot of charitable work. If there’s one thing I know about him, it’s his loyalty and if he says he is going to do it, he does,” said Eshara.
For the first time last year, many of those attending the ABH Charity Fair in Chatsworth got the opportunity to hear Indian songstress Alka Yagnik perform for a mere R30.
“The ABH was turning 30 and its members approached me to do something special for their annual fair,” Maharaj said.
“I sort of took on the project and decided I wanted to give Chatsworth an event it had never seen. I wanted to give back to the community together with the sponsors and organisers. I decided, with no management costs involved, to bring Alka. The organisers said they had never seen such a tremendous turnout.”
Maharaj also assists child welfare organisations and temple societies. “It is important to give back. I am content with my life, so where I can give, I give.”
He is preparing for an Atif Aslam concert and has teamed up with Serendipity Travel and the ABH for the upcoming fair at the Chatsworth Circus site from July 26 to 29.
“We are bringing Amit Kumar, the son of the legendary Kishore Kumar, and Abhijeet Bhattacharya to Durban. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward the ABH.”
EVENTS
■ The Sarva Dharma Ashram will host its annual fund-raiser dinner at the Woodhurst Multicultural Centre on August 18 from 4pm. Tickets are R130.
■ A blood camp will be held at Foresthaven Secondary in Phoenix on Saturday from 8am to 4pm.
■ Hot Shots Pool Academy in oThongathi will host a thunee competition on Saturday from 10am. Call Johnny at 082 439 9355.
■ The Durga Mahima Bakti Sewa will host its AGM on July 28 at 3pm at 7 Charnwood Drive in Verulam
■ Avoca High School will host its 45th reunion (Class of 1973) on August 4 at 6pm at Phoenix Galvanizing – Aberdare Drive, Phoenix Industrial Park. Call Ooma at 083 778 3931, Cass 082 654 7291 or Peru 082 790 2150.
■ Swami Parthasarathy will conduct a once-off Next Gen Wisdom seminar in Durban on July 29 at the Playhouse Opera Theatre at 10am. Email durban@vedanta.org.za
■ The South African Hindu Maha Sabha will host an online language learning programme meeting on July 14 at its boardroom at 280 Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street at 1pm. E-mail sahms@worldonline.co.za or call 031 309 1951.
■ The South African Tamil Federation will host the 14th Annual National Children’s Tamil Eisteddfod at the weekend at the Arena Park Regional Hall in Chatsworth at 8.30am.
PRAYER
■ The Shri Suria Narayan Temple in Redfern, Phoenix, will observe its Mariammen prayer on July 22 and the Madurai Veeran prayer thereafter at 4pm.
■ The Tinley Manor Shree Siva Soobramaniar Temple will observe its annual Mariammen prayer on July 22 and flag hoisting on July 20.
■ The Sathie Sanmarka Sungum of SA will celebrate its 45th annual divine festival until July 22 in Chatsworth.
■ The Greenwood Park Shree Ranganathar Temple Society will observe its Divine Mother Mariammen prayer on July 22 at 10am (and the soaking of mielie meal on July 18 at 9am).
■ The Buccleuch Temple at the corner of Gibson and Old Pretoria roads in Buccleuch, Johannesburg, will host a firewalking ceremony on August 5 at 10am.
■ The Mariannhill Shri Siva Soobramoniar Alayam will observe its annual Mariammen, Madhuraiveeran and Gama Devi Pooja on July 22 from 8am.