The Bollywood Gala
An evening of music that funds a year of giving
Music, dance and a room full of neighbours. Performers give their time, local businesses sponsor the evening, and the people who come give what they can. Every dollar of it goes into this township.
It is free — anyone can come, you do not need a ticket or an invitation. What the Gala raises is presented to the Washington Township Trustees at a public Board meeting each year.
The 13th annual Bollywood Gala — Melody Memories — Washington Township RecPlex, March 15, 2026.
Since 2010, the stage has belonged to our own community
Thirteen years of the Bollywood Gala
The first Bollywood Gala with local performers was held on 1 May 2010, at RecWest Auditorium — two months before Lamhe closed out the visiting-artist era. From 2010 on, every edition has been neighbours performing for neighbours.
Edition 13
2026 · Melody Memories
Washington Township RecPlex, March 15, 2026 — the photograph above is from this evening.
Edition 12
2025 · Echoes of Love
Local performers from Dayton and neighbouring communities took the stage.
Edition 11
2024 · Eternal Hits
Local performers from Dayton and neighbouring communities took the stage.
No Gala was held in 2021 or 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Edition 9
2020 · Evergreen Hits
Local performers from Dayton and neighbouring communities took the stage.
Edition 8
2019 · Magical Duets
26 singers, 45+ songs. Yukta’s Garden, the Foundation’s indoor playground at RecPlex West, held its grand opening the same day.
Edition 7
2018 · Romantic Hits
22 singers, 55 songs — the Gala returned after a two-year gap in 2016 and 2017.
No Gala was held in 2016 or 2017.
Edition 5
2014 · Bollywood Gala
Local performers from Dayton and neighbouring communities took the stage again.
Edition 4
2013 · Bollywood Gala
Local performers from Dayton and neighbouring communities took the stage again.
Edition 3
2012 · Bollywood Gala
Local performers from Dayton and neighbouring communities took the stage again.
Edition 2
2011 · Bollywood Night
Local performers from Dayton and neighbouring communities took the stage again.
Edition 1
2010 · A Night of Culture
The first Bollywood Gala with local performers, at RecWest Auditorium on 1 May 2010 — renowned artists from Dayton and neighbouring cities. That same year, two months later, Lamhe closed out the visiting-artist era: 2010 holds both.
Photographs and video from each year’s Gala are being added to this page.
How it began
Before the Gala: three concerts with visiting artists from India
From 2007 to 2010, fundraisers for the Butterfly Playground brought touring artists from India to Dayton-area stages — the Bellbrook High School Auditorium for the first concert, and the Performing Arts Center at Centerville High School for the two that followed.
27 June 2010
Lamhe — Live by Legends
With the India Club of Greater Dayton: veteran playback singers Kavita Krishnamurty and Suresh Wadkar, with Sanchita Bhattacharya (winner, Saregamapa Lil Champs) and Aavez Darbar (Fame Gurukul), backed by Saregamapa musicians including Girish Vishwa on dholak. More than 800 people attended — the last of the visiting-artist concerts.
4 May 2008
Udit & Aditya Narayan — Live in Concert
Udit Narayan (five Filmfare Awards, judge on Indian Idol) and his son Aditya Narayan, with actress Priti Jhangiani and Aditi Paul (Indian Idol), anchored by model Saundarya Garg, plus 25 musicians and dancers from Mumbai on a two-month US and Canada tour. The goal was to raise $50,000 to match a Township commitment of the same amount.
14 July 2007
Sanjeevani — The Revival Concert
The first concert in the series. Sanjeevani, with Shivprasad, performed to an audience of 500+ over four hours at the Bellbrook High School Auditorium.