After the death of Lata didi, we have become orphans,” a teary-eyed Asha Bhosale said on behalf of her sisters and brother after unveiling a portrait of late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar at the Master Dinanath Mangeshkar auditorium at Vile Parle in north-west Mumbai on Tuesday.
Seven weeks after Lata Mangeshkar passed away at the Breach Candy Hospital south Mumbai, veteran singer Asha Bhosale, her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar, sister Usha Mangeshkar and other Mangeshkar family members stepped out of their homes together for the first time and joined the unveiling ceremony of a large portrait of their beloved sister. Lata Mangeshkar was the eldest among five singing siblings and accomplished singers and musicians -- the others being Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridaynath, The portrait of a smiling Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on February 6, was unveiled by senior versatile actor Vikram Gokhale, a close family friend of Mangeshkars for seven decades, at a moving ceremony held at an auditorium named after Lata’s father Deenanath Mangeshkar. Talking to media persons after the unveiling of Lata Mangeshkar’s portrait, an emotional Asha Bhosale recalled: "Whenever I used to go wherever I used to take blessings from Didi, she used to tell me not to touch my feet always; my blessings are always with you whether you come here or not. Mai, Baba and I are always close to you".