Lata Mangeshkar passed away in Mumbai on February 6 at the age of 92.
She lent her melodious voice to songs in numerous Indian languages and was addressed as the ‘Nightingale of India’.
Late singer Lata Mangeshkar may no longer be with us, but her legacy lives on through her unforgettable songs and stories. She lent her melodious voice to songs in numerous Indian languages, earning her the title of “Swar Kokila.” Lata viewed music as a form of spiritual devotion and always held it in high regard. However, in the 1970s, she received an offer that most others would have found difficult to decline, yet Lata chose not to publicize her journey of dedication.
Lata Mangeshkar declined a substantial offer from a prominent businessman who had invited both her and her sister, Asha Bhosle to perform at a family wedding. The offer included a significant sum of Rs 1 crore, which left Lata Mangeshkar deeply displeased with the proposition.
Asha Bhosle recently shared the incident where both sisters were invited to a wedding with extraordinarily expensive tickets worth millions. The organizers specifically wanted both Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar to perform. When Lata Mangeshkar asked Asha if she would sing at the wedding, Asha declined, and Lata conveyed to the representative that they would not perform, even if offered 10 crore dollars, as they had a policy of not singing at weddings. This decision left the person who extended the invitation greatly disappointed.
During the event, Asha Bhosle reminisced about a special memory from their childhood when they drank the water used to wash their parents’ feet. Lata Mangeshkar, who was only four years older than Asha, believed that children who drank this water would achieve great success in life.
Asha recalled a specific instance when they lived in Kolhapur. Lata asked her to fetch some water in a bowl and pour it over their sleeping parents’ feet. They then collected that water in their hands and drank it together. Asha noted that today’s generation doesn’t practise this tradition as they prefer a more hygienic approach to serving water, which is natural.
Lata Mangeshkar died in Mumbai on February 6, 2022, aged 92, due to multiple organ failure. Her demise marked the end of an era in the Indian film industry. Asha Bhosle has cherished memories of Lata and has spoken warmly about her on numerous occasions.
