KENDRA’S DIWALI DHAMAKA PROGRAMME AT SATTAVIS PATIDAR CENTRE ON THURS – 20/10/22
1666442563658blob.jpg
It was unfortunately a heavy rainy Autumnal day (or was it a Blessing) on 20th Oct '22, when we had our annual Diwali Dhamaka programme at Sattavis Patidar Centre with full day of music by Marina and Party.
Yet members were so excited that many had turned up at the venue very early and everyone was full of enthusiasm wearing smart dresses, colourful saris or suits. After presenting their tickets to the volunteers at the entrance, they were given the counterfoil duly numbered and this was to be retained for the Raffle Draw later on. The volunteers also gave them their Table numbers, if they did not know.
Hat's off to these volunteers who sat there serving the members until nearly lunch time whilst others were enjoying the music.
On the Volunteer's Table, a beautiful flower arrangement prepared by Manjuben Pindoria was displayed. She has been doing this for many years now.
1666522067397blob.jpg
At the side of the Main Entrance to the Hall our members - Meenaxiben and Rameshchand N Shah had displayed on a Table, an eye-catching Rangoli beautifully arranged with lights. The entrance too was decorated by them. The couple have been displaying Rangoli for many years at our grand functions. Members were so pleased with their display that several of them had their photographs taken at the Display Table.
1666468829491blob.jpg
All attendees entering the Hall were given a bar of Chocolate which all appreciated laughing for more!
All the tables and chairs arranged in the Hall were decorated in White. On each Table there were packets of Peanuts, Crisps and a bottle of water for each person. There was also a large bottle of soft drink and the Programme for the day with menu and Raffle Prizes (Everyone was surprised by the inclusion of a Surprise item in the Menu and were wondering and asking each other what could it be !! - well it was a well-kept mystery until lunch was served- it was a mouth-watering 'Paan' and everyone was delighted to have this included in the menu).
The ambience in the Hall was indeed noteworthy.
1666455421603blob.jpg
The attendance was a record 360 members and guests, which is now becoming a norm in our special programmes with live music. This shows how popular our programmes are growing day by day.
On the stage at far end of the Hall was the music Group of Marina and party with eight members including the lady singer - Meera. Music started on the dot at 11.00 am with the Navkar Mantra sung in musically fast beat and everyone joined in reciting the melodious tune. After the auspicious start of the programme, the Group sang many old memorable songs.
1666455615941blob.jpg
The Group continued to sing several oldies and unforgettable tunes from the “Bhuli Bishri Yadeein”, which were highly applauded as members also started to sing with the Group's melodious tunes. Several requests from members for their favourite songs were sung to the delight, dancing and clapping by members.
The joyous mood of all the members and guests with thunderous clapping all the time, encouraged the singers.
At 12.45pm there was a break from music and the President-Vinod Parekh and Secretary - Purnimaben Mehta made their announcements.
1666695063403blob.jpg
Secretary - Purnimaben announced the donors:
Donations:
£25 from an anonymous Donor
£51 from Shantaben Pindoria who celebrated her 73rd birthday on 20/10/22.
£101. from Mr. Prabhudasbhai/Rasilaben & Bina Shah on the occasion of Diwali
£101 from Mr. Amritbhai Chauhan on the occasion of Diwali
£85 from Mrs. Hansaben Pattani, who will celebrate her 85th birthday on 30/10/22
£21 from Mrs Chandrakalaben Bachubhai Mehta on the occasion of Diwali.
President - Vinod Parekh's welcome address:
He welcomed all present to this year's Diwali Dhamaka programme which is the largest gathering of the year with many members' guests and hoped that everyone will have a splendid time today.
He was happy to inform that attendance at our weekly gatherings on Thursdays is improving and more and more members are coming forward after the Covind shutdown.
He thanked all the EC members and Volunteers who came early and helped in arranging the Tables, snacks, decorations, etc. In such large events, team work plays a very important role. Also had good support from the staff of Sattavis Patidar.
He said that we had already started to roll out for new members who will be starting from the new year and their response was very good after having waited for many years.
He noted that this year the members gave the list of ten persons to sit on Tables in a very clumsy way and we had to work out very hard to sort out the various groups as many names were repeated in two or three Tables, thus making so difficult for allocations of chairs. When we used to meet in VIP, we had every thing sorted out by their staff and we just walked in, whilst here we had to do all setting ourselves.
He announced and thanked the various sponsors:
Sponsors of various items for the Programme:
Printing of Diwali Dhamaka Tickets: Anonymous doner
Crisps & Chocolate bars by Hansaben Mistry, who celebrated her birthday on 20th October.
Soft drinks 2 lit. Bottles by Kirtibhai & Harshaben Desai
500 ml Water bottles - 400 by Mr. Seju and Preeti Shah
(Their late mother was a NVK member) and the family has always helped NVK in many ways in the past.
Packets of salted nuts by our EC member Kusum D. Punater, who is celebrating her birthday soon.
Rangoli at the entrance was displayed and arranged by Meenaxiben and Rameshchand N Shah.
Surbhi Khona- some decorations on the food serving tables.
He also welcomed our invited guests who have helped us in various ways:
Kendra’s guest invited at the Programme:
Mr. & Mrs. Dipak and Rita Shah
Mr. & Mrs. Seju and Preeti Shah
Mr. & Mrs. Harshad and Asmita Gangadia
Mrs. Manishaben Wala
He mentioned that Manishaben - our Yoga Guru, had been conducting Yoga for NVK for over 14 years now and members had really benefited health wise by doing Yoga. We all agree that she has been instrumental in keeping us healthy because of her help to every individual member to ensure that everyone does the Yoga poses correctly. No doubt we are immensely thankful to her for our fitness.
He also mentioned that Jayantbhai Doshi who was the original founder member and instrumental in setting up the NVK had been our Secretary for last 15 years had now retired. Currently he is recovering in Hospital with knee operation. Our Best wishes to him for speedy recovery.
The Raffle draw then took place and the prizes and winners were:
1ST PRIZE - A SET OF SARI WITH BLOUSE PIECE DONOR: NEENABEN & ANIL BHUVA -WINNING TKT NO 420 - WINNER: B T SHAH & FAMILY
2ND PRIZE - KING SIZE DUVET COVER - ANONYMOUS DONOR - WINNING TKT NO 0108 - WINNER : SHANTABEN SHAH
3RD PRIZE - SET OF TWO WATER BOTTLES - ANONYMOUS DONOR - WINNING TKT NO 0438 - WINNER : VASANT PAREKH
4TH PRIZE - MASSAGE SET - DONOR : NUTANBEN LAXMAN - WINNING TKT NO 0271 - WINNER : RAMABEN SHAH
Dr Pragnaben Mandalia then came to thank the President and EC members for the hard work they had put in to present a fabulous Diwli Dhamaka programme. She emphasised on the immense work involved in organising such large event and thanked the President for taking lead in putting up a great show thanking all volunteers and the Music Group for their support in making a great success.
At 1.00 pm the lunch was served - first to the Musical Group, then disabled and finally table numbers were called upon by Dr Mahendra Vora so the people seating on those tables come to the serving tables where Food Servers and volunteers served them.
The menu was: 'Garam Dhilo Mohanthal, Masala Puri, Kachori, Khamman Dhokra, Undhiyu saakh, Jeera rice, Kadhi, Fur fur, Chutney, pickles and the Sweet Paan.
At 2.00 pm, the music restarted with more songs and Music. The Gujarati Garbas were a hit and the dancing floor was packed with members performing garbas. The Group also gave a Swahili song which was favourite of all Ex - East Africans.
The dance floor remained crowded with dancing members till the end. It was a matter of pride for NVK to see many members in their seventies and eighties taking part in Garbas so joyfully and happily without any care in the world. It seems we have to keep many such programmes which are a delight to our members.
Kendra was very happy to announce that two of our members are celebrating their birthday today: HANSABEN MISTRY and SHANTABEN PINDORIA. Also HANSABEN PATTANI will celebrate her birthday on 30/10/22. The Music Group played the famous "Happy Birthday" music in honour of these three ladies. NVK's heartiest congratulations to them and hope that they will all be celebrating many more birthdays to come.
AME FER FUDARDI FARTATA.......
The programme ended after 3.30 pm with the last song of the day: YEH DOSTI HUM NAHI TODENGE........
YEH DOSTI HUM NAHI TODENGE - TODENGE DAM MAGAR............
Surbhiben Khona came at the end of the programme to thank the President and his team for putting up an excellent programme with delicious food and melodious music. She praised the whole set up and decorations in the Hall and keeping up on all times in the programme.
At the end the lead singer from the Music Group remarked that their band was very happy to perform for the elderly members and seeing that all of them enjoying and taking part in the dances and garbas. She also said that They were honoured to sing to such a large crowd who were very appreciative of their music.
Many members talked about the very enjoyable and excellent programme, delicious food at lunch and the melodious music and songs, which they applauded. From the members views, it seemed this was yet another fantastic programme we have had so far.
After the programme we have been inundated with numerous messages of congratulations, appreciation and enjoyment of the excellent programme. To all those who sent us such messages, The Executive Committee has to say that members’ satisfaction and enjoyment is our reward for all our efforts. When members enjoy and give us credit, it also gives us the impetus, a lot of pleasure and encouragement and we hope to continue to work even better for the elderly in future.
PRAFUL SHAH
PRO - NVK