Vighnaharta Dhol Tasha Pathak is America's The First and Full Fledged Dhol Tasha Pathak. It was established in 2005 and first performed at the Philadelphia Ganesh Festival's (PGF) very First Year of Celebrations. PGF is America's The First 10-day Sarvajanik Ganesh Festival  jointly hosted by Philadelphia Marathi Mandal and Bharatiya Temple founded by Shri Nand Todi and Mukund Kute in 2005 for uniting the diverse Hindu American community. 

During the very first year in 2005, we could only procure the Kachchhi Wooden Shell Dhols and Animal Skin laced Copper Kettle Drums (The Original Tasha Instrument). The Copper Kettle Tasha Drums were required to be heated on a flame to tighten the skin and get necessary tone. The Tasha used to be played by burnt rattan wicker sticks.

Some time on 2000-2004, Penn State University in State College celebrated a 1-day Ganesh Festival where late Shri Kiran Joglekar had played the Copper Kettle drum in front of Ganesh Palkhi. In January 2005, Kiran was appointed by PGF as an official teacher to teach the various Tasha Taals to PGF Dhol Tasha Tasha Team. Shri. Harshad Abhyankar and Shirish Joglekar has been there from very first year in 2005 and has been leading the Pathak since last 22 years into 2026 festival this year.

The PGF Dhol Tasha Team then perfected the Dhol Tasha taals, rolls, etc after securing Copper Brass Ganga Jamuna Tashas with synthetic skins and Stainless Steel Sheel based 30" diameter Dhols with animal and syntheic skins. 

In 2009 Brihan Maharashtra Convention in Philly, the very first time a full fledged Dhol Tasha Pathak from Philadelphia led the huge procession inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Pathak has been fully functional without any gaps for past 22 years and performed even during Covid Pandemic. 

Today, in 2026 the Pathak is popular as Vighnaharta Dhol Tasha Pathak and is America's first and foremost Pathak that has integrated second generation and women very early on since its inception.

 

The Pathak has 11 Upa-Pathaks (subgroups) as follows:

1. Dhol Pathak

2. Tasha Pathak

3. Tole Pathak

4. Lezhim Pathak

5. Barchi Pathak

6. Diwati Pathak

7. Jhanjh Pathak

8. Dhwaj Pathak

9. Abdagiri Pathak

10. Tutari/Shankh Pathak and 

11. Chhatra, Chamar, Raj Dand Pathak,

 

The 11 Upa-Pathaks give Vighnaharta Dhol Tasha Pathak its full fledged status of  a Vedik Rajopchar Pathak. The Pathak team is currently learning the Vedic Taals like Ganesh Parans, Rudra Taal, Brahma Taal etc from South Indian Musician Priests to be played as per Aghorsaiva's 11 century book 'MahotsavVidhi'.