During the Durga Puja time, while majorrity of our resident children visit their villages, homes, relatives, still, there are every year around 100 children who stay at Parivaar only – some have Parivaar as their only home and for a few others their guardians / relatives cannot take them owing to their work as migrant labour in a distant area etc. We make sure the children who are present at the campus enjoy the festival as much as any other person. We also present all the children with new set of clothes for the Sharadotsab (Durga Puja) to all the children (those who stay back as well as those who go). We take them to various places on excursion every year starting from Shashthi and this festive mood remains till Dashami.
Our dedicated Sevavratees take a much curtailed leave for 2-3 days during Puja to be with our children. Some Sevavratees stay fully at Parivaar to be with the children.
On 20th October, Mahasashti, we took them for some Pandal hopping in the evening around the campus along with some of our sevabratees to take care of them. They were also provided with some snacks of their choice from the street food stalls.
The next day was 21st October, Mahasaptami and we had a visit to the Science City Knowledge & Amusement Park where the group went in our own buses to the venue. We already had intimated the Science City authorities about our visit and they cooperated very generously so that all our children have the opportunity to see the facilities. Lunch was arranged for the kids there and they spent almost 8 hours there starting from 11 am. This park consists of various shows and other facilities related to science and the children were pretty interested in everything they came across. We ended the visit at almost 7 in the evening.
The following day was 22nd October, Mahashtami, and we planned that day for Pandal Hopping in the South 24 Parganas District. They came across various beautiful Pandals with innovative themes. All the children were very happy. They came back in the evening to the campus.
The next day, i.e. the 23rd October, Mahanavami, was the day every child was looking forward to as that day was planned for a visit to Nicco Park. This is an Amusement Park where there are multiple rides which the children can avail. There is also a water amusement park where the children enjoyed a lot. The Nicco Park authorities also cooperated very generously and presented everyone in the group with a special pass that would allow them to avail any ride free of cost. Lunch was also arranged by them at a very nominal cost. The children spent almost 8 hours and has covered almost all the rides they came across like the rope way or the cave ride or various other shows. Like every other day they came back to the campus in the evening.
Then on 24th of October, Dashami or the last day of the festival they were taken to Belur Math and Dakhshineswar Temple. We started from the Dakhshineswar temple and availed the waterway through the Hoogly river in a ferry which the children immensely enjoyed. Belur Math also conducts Durga Puja and being Dashami there was arrangements made for the Bisarjan (deity immersion) in the river. They witnessed the event, being there till the late evening and came back to their respective campus at night.
Shubha Bijaya to all and wishing a Happy Deepawali in advance.
