Mayor Joins State in Welcoming 2013 Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal of North America Convention to Providence

Upwards of 4000 attendees expected for convention over the Independence Day Weekend 2013.

Mayor Taveras announced on Tuesday that the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal of North America will be holding their 2013 Annual Convention in the City of Providence. Upwards of 4,000 guests are expected, with some 3,748 total Providence-area rooms and the entire RI Convention Center used as host facilities for this event.

The organization - founded in 1981 in Chicago - is a non-profit organization focused on promoting literary, educational and charitable activities, and the music, dance and theatre of the State of Maharashtra, India. Their mission is to also assist students, artists, business people and others from that area of India with knowledge about North American culture, theatre, community and language.

"This is a great announcement for the City of Providence," said Mayor Angel Taveras. "This Convention will bring upwards of 4000 Marathi-speaking persons from all over the US and Canada to Providence - filling our hotels during the normally quieter summer months, and over the Independence Day holiday next year. As a city of great diversity - we welcome the Convention to our city and know our community will embrace their visit to our city, as they embrace our community."

Martha Sheridan, President and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention Visitors Bureau echoed the sentiment, noting, "We are delighted that Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal of North America has selected Providence as the site for their 2013 annual conference. The group will have the opportunity to explore all the great assets of our city, and even take in some of the Independence Day celebrations. We are very much looking forward to their visit in July."

President of the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal of North America, Ashish Chaughule (Sha-Gool), said the selection came down to two choices - Providence or Boston - and that the meeting with the Mayor and city officials earlier this spring convinced him and his organization that we were the right place to host next year's event, we would not treat this event as 'just another convention.'

"What I took from my experience there in Providence was the personal touch, like a small-town feel where people found to be caring, a home away from home... The City and convention officials made it clear, this is not just another event to them. And that's the real reason we picked Providence," said Ashish Chaughule, President, BMM North America.

Conventions are held every two years, and next year's will include a program for 500 youth ages 18 to 30 years of age, and on-site programs for children. Past conventions have been held in Calgary, Houston, Toronto, Boston, Silicon Valley, Baltimore and Long Beach.

For more information on the convention visit www.pwcvb.com.