To beat lockdown blues, Park residents hold virtual concert

Shubhra Pant | TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2020, 07:59 IST

GURUGRAM: As people look for ways to deal with the nationwide lockdown, residents of Richmond Park arranged a virtual music concert on Saturday evening.
The concert was organised through an application — Zoom — and around 35 residents attended the virtual event.
“We wanted to basically change the narrative and stir conversations around something else apart from Covid-19 and hence we came up with this idea,” said Arun Rao, one of the residents.
He added that they had residents lining up to perform. While some had planned their performances, others joined in for impromptu gigs encouraged by other residents.
While a couple, part of a music group, sang some old Hindi melodies, another lady sang a contemporary Hindi song. One of the residents also played a raag on the flute.
“We were discussing how we can keep everyone motivated and entertained and how we could connect without stepping out of our homes during this lockdown. The one of the residents who runs an event management company suggested of this idea,” said Mohit Hira, another resident.
In between the performances, residents inquired about each others’ interests and tastes. Many were surprised by the talent of their neighbours and the fact that they had never heard them before.
Consequently, the concert also became a conversation breaker between those who had never interacted with each other.
Seeing the response, the residents planned to do another virtual concert soon, maybe within a fortnight’s time, as it becomes one of the ways to keep people engaged and motivated during these times.