Ekal Vidyalaya New Hampshire’s inaugural fundraiser brings together Bollywood music, community, culture and a larger purpose on September 13, 2026.
What difference can a Bollywood concert in Nashua make to a child growing up in a remote Indian village?
Potentially, a life-changing one.
On Sunday, September 13, 2026, music and purpose will come together at Assi Nabbe Poore Sau, the first fundraiser presented by the Ekal Vidyalaya New Hampshire Chapter.
The occasion will also mark a major milestone for Din Check—its 100th live performance.
That achievement inspired the event’s memorable name: Assi, Nabbe, Poore Sau—eighty, ninety and finally, a complete hundred.
For Din Check, it is a celebration of how far the band has travelled. For Ekal Vidyalaya New Hampshire, it is an opportunity to introduce more people to a movement built around education and service. For the audience, it promises an afternoon of live Bollywood music connected to a meaningful cause.
Where One Teacher Can Change a Village
The word Ekal means “one,” reflecting the movement’s original model of creating one-teacher schools in places where conventional education is difficult to access.
Ekal’s journey began in the early 1980s when nuclear physicist Dr. Rakesh Popli and his wife, primary education specialist Rama Popli, left their professional lives to work in rural India. They believed children should not be denied an education simply because they were born far from an established school.
Their approach was simple, practical and rooted in local participation.
A trained teacher from the area could educate children in a shared village space, sometimes even outdoors. Songs, stories and activities could make learning accessible and engaging. Village committees could help select teachers, choose locations and monitor the schools.
Education was not simply being delivered to a village by outsiders. The village itself became part of the solution.
Over time, Ekal’s work expanded beyond basic literacy. Its initiatives now include digital education, healthcare awareness, women’s empowerment, sustainable agriculture, vocational training and livelihood development.
Ekal reports that it is active in more than 100,000 remote villages, supported by over 400,000 volunteers worldwide, and has helped bring literacy to more than 10 million children.
The scale is impressive, but Ekal’s impact is best understood through individual lives: a child learning to read, a young woman gaining employable skills, a farmer discovering better practices or a family beginning to imagine possibilities that once felt beyond reach.
That is the purpose at the heart of Assi Nabbe Poore Sau.
Ekal’s New Hampshire Journey
The inaugural fundraiser is being led by Aarti Khuranaa, President of the Ekal Vidyalaya New Hampshire Chapter, along with volunteers and supporters who share a commitment to Ekal’s mission.
The initiative reflects something deeply familiar within New England’s Indian-American community—the ability to establish a life in America while continuing to care about people and places in India.
Many who settled in New England arrived with an education, professional experience and the determination to create better opportunities for their families. Supporting Ekal offers a way to help children in rural and tribal communities begin their own journeys toward opportunity.
There may be thousands of miles between Nashua and the villages served by Ekal, but the connection is personal. It is built through memory, responsibility and a shared belief that education can change the direction of a life.
While Talking to Jay-Ho, Manisha Jain, Executive Director of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation USA, shared: “The first fundraiser of Ekal’s New Hampshire chapter marks the beginning of a meaningful journey of Seva and community impact. It is heartening to see individuals come together with a shared commitment to uplift rural and tribal communities in India. I hope this chapter becomes a vibrant hub of compassion, collaboration, and action—turning the spirit of giving into lasting change.”
Her words capture what this gathering represents: not simply a single afternoon, but an invitation for people across New Hampshire to participate in a sustained effort grounded in seva.
Din Check: From a Massachusetts Basement to Performance Number 100
Din Check’s story also began close to home—and on a much smaller stage.
What eventually became one of New England’s most recognized Bollywood bands started with friends making music in a suburban Massachusetts basement. Founded by Jolly Bhatia, Sam Rao and Sameer Bhambhani, the group grew through friendship, persistence and a genuine enjoyment of performing together.
Even the name has rhythm. “Din Check” echoes the percussive sound of the tabla, fitting for a band known for lively performances.
Its musicians come from professional backgrounds in biotechnology, engineering, accounting, business and scientific research. Away from their careers, music gives them another identity and a way to remain connected with their cultural roots.
The ensemble combines vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, acoustic drums and Indian percussion. Its musical influences range from Hindustani and Carnatic classical traditions to Bollywood, rock, blues, jazz and Bhangra.
The group includes lead vocalist Jolly Bhatia, guitarist Sameer Bhambhani, vocalist and keyboardist Meenakshi Kulshreshtha, keyboardist and vocalist Anandini Sekhar, drummer Kamal Dasu, bassist Mike Grover and percussionist Sam Rao. Din Check also collaborates with guest performers, including vocalist and keyboardist Juhi Lalwani.
Its repertoire crosses Bollywood eras and includes music in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati. The band is also known for creative mashups that bring Indian melodies together with American pop and rock.
From its basement beginnings, Din Check has performed at festivals, weddings, cultural celebrations, award ceremonies and charity events across New England and several other states. Through that growth, the friendship among its members has remained an important part of its identity.
Now, the band is ready to celebrate performance number 100.
A Milestone With Meaning
For an independent band, reaching 100 performances is no small achievement.
Behind that number are years of rehearsals, travel, changing venues, late nights and the challenge of balancing music with careers and family life. There are also 99 audiences, each with its own memories, that came before the one that will gather in Nashua.
Some of those performances celebrated weddings and personal milestones. Others brought people together at festivals or supported charitable causes.
It feels fitting that Din Check’s 100th performance will benefit education.
Music helped a group of friends build something lasting in New England. Their milestone can now help create opportunities for children and families thousands of miles away.
The concert will blend timeless Bollywood melodies with contemporary sounds, allowing longtime followers to celebrate Din Check’s journey while introducing new listeners to the energy of a full live band.
Bollywood Memories Shared Across Generations
Every generation carries its own Bollywood soundtrack.
A song may take someone back to college days in India. Another may recall a wedding, a family road trip or a movie watched repeatedly on an old videotape. Younger listeners may know those same melodies through remixes, reels or the songs their parents continue to play at home.
Live music allows all those memories to meet in one room.
For a few hours, age and background matter less. The audience recognizes the lyrics, follows the beat and becomes part of the performance. At Assi Nabbe Poore Sau, those shared memories will celebrate Din Check’s milestone while supporting Ekal’s educational mission.
An Afternoon of Music, Shopping and Giving
Along with Din Check’s live performance, guests can enjoy an exclusive shopping experience and complimentary refreshments. Free parking will be available, and groups of 10 can receive a special discounted rate.
The event is proudly supported by Poppy’s Paintings as Gold Sponsor, Dr. Tej Dhakar as Silver Sponsor and Padma Sonti, Realtor as Bronze Sponsor.
Their support, together with the work of the chapter’s volunteers, is helping bring this first fundraiser to the New Hampshire community.
Event Details
Assi Nabbe Poore Sau – Ekal NH Annual Fundraiser 2026
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Venue: Nashua High School North
Address: 8 Titan Way, Nashua, NH 03063
Featuring: Din Check – New England’s Premier Bollywood Band
Also Enjoy: Exclusive shopping and complimentary refreshments
Parking: Free
Group Offer: Special discounted rate for groups of 10
Tickets: Get Tickets – Ekal Vidyalaya
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Assi Nabbe Poore Sau?
Assi Nabbe Poore Sau is the inaugural fundraiser organized by the Ekal Vidyalaya New Hampshire Chapter. The event combines live Bollywood music, community entertainment, shopping and refreshments while supporting Ekal’s mission of expanding educational opportunities in rural and tribal India.
When is the Assi Nabbe Poore Sau fundraiser?
The Assi Nabbe Poore Sau fundraiser will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where is the Ekal NH fundraiser being held?
The event will be held at Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way, Nashua, NH 03063.
Who will perform at Assi Nabbe Poore Sau?
Din Check, a New England-based Bollywood band, will be the featured musical act at the fundraiser. The band will present a live Bollywood music experience featuring songs from different eras and styles.
What can attendees expect at the event?
Guests can enjoy live Bollywood music, an exclusive shopping experience, complimentary refreshments and a chance to connect with the New Hampshire and wider New England community while supporting Ekal’s educational mission.
