There is a very beautiful saying in Marathi –
Denaryane det jave
Ghenaryane ghet rahave
Gheta gheta ghenaryane denaryache haatach ghyave.
Simply translated this means –
The giver should keep giving,
The receiver should keep receiving
And while receiving, the receiver should take a giver’s hands or in other words should himself become a giver!
What thoughts! While what we did for Christmas at office this year is not as magnanimous as this saying, it was certainly a pleasant way of celebrating the Christmas spirit. This year around, the idea was to give gifts to children at some NGO. A local NGO- Akanksha's Muskan centre was zeroed in where they teach underprivileged children from the surrounding slums. Notices were put up and announcements made asking for gifts that could be handed out to these children. The response was overwhelming. While plenty of gifts were received, those who could not get gifts gave generous cash contributions. Then it was time to hunt for good gifts. This was an exciting activity where thought had to be put into the gifts that it would make them suitable for a child, gender neutral (no girl activity kit should be handed to boys etc) and that no bulk-ordering-everything-is-the-same-kind gifts. Each gift was hand picked and the store employees did a great job of wrapping each gift in a very short time period. Then a whole bus load of us from office which included carol singers, volunteers, volunteer photographers et al went to the centre. Our visit was kept as a surprise and the children were busy in their activities. That is when the carol singers, all adorning Santa-caps entered the hall.
The carols were accompanied by some good music, claps and for the well known carols, the children joined in the singing.
Denaryane det jave
Ghenaryane ghet rahave
Gheta gheta ghenaryane denaryache haatach ghyave.
Simply translated this means –
The giver should keep giving,
The receiver should keep receiving
And while receiving, the receiver should take a giver’s hands or in other words should himself become a giver!
What thoughts! While what we did for Christmas at office this year is not as magnanimous as this saying, it was certainly a pleasant way of celebrating the Christmas spirit. This year around, the idea was to give gifts to children at some NGO. A local NGO- Akanksha's Muskan centre was zeroed in where they teach underprivileged children from the surrounding slums. Notices were put up and announcements made asking for gifts that could be handed out to these children. The response was overwhelming. While plenty of gifts were received, those who could not get gifts gave generous cash contributions. Then it was time to hunt for good gifts. This was an exciting activity where thought had to be put into the gifts that it would make them suitable for a child, gender neutral (no girl activity kit should be handed to boys etc) and that no bulk-ordering-everything-is-the-same-kind gifts. Each gift was hand picked and the store employees did a great job of wrapping each gift in a very short time period. Then a whole bus load of us from office which included carol singers, volunteers, volunteer photographers et al went to the centre. Our visit was kept as a surprise and the children were busy in their activities. That is when the carol singers, all adorning Santa-caps entered the hall.
The carols were accompanied by some good music, claps and for the well known carols, the children joined in the singing. After a few carols, entered who else but Santa Claus! Excitement broke out and there was a lot of cheering. There was a rainbow of emotions – joy, delight, excitement, cheer, and awe on the children’s faces when Santa handed out the gifts to them. Santa’s elves handed out a packet of crayons and chocolate bars too. 
What is worth noting here is that though the kids come from slum areas, all of them were very neat and clean and more importantly well behaved.
It was very difficult to leave and some of us wanted to stay back and play with the children but alas, there was work to do back at office and we had to return.
And nay sir, we didn’t come empty handed. We received a very nice thank you card from them – handmade!
What is worth noting here is that though the kids come from slum areas, all of them were very neat and clean and more importantly well behaved.
It was very difficult to leave and some of us wanted to stay back and play with the children but alas, there was work to do back at office and we had to return.
And nay sir, we didn’t come empty handed. We received a very nice thank you card from them – handmade!
To say the least, it was a very humbling experience. I am ready to bet that the joy on the faces of our group was no less than the joy on the children’s faces. We received manifold and this has by far been the best way we have spent Christmas at office.
Photocredit: Our official photographer Ms.UK (thanks UK)!
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2 comments:
very beautiful...i think a long time ago...FHE had organised a day of outing for some children and by the end of the day, I think we gained more than the children did.
Very touching.A day well spent.Its good to hear the involvement was more than just giving out gifts.Appreciate all those who stood up to spread the smiles:-)...God bless.
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