Participation in varied events to mark the International Women’s Day cuts across class and age
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True inclusivity and diversity marked the celebrations[/caption]There was an enthusiastic participation from ladies in the International Women’s Day Celebrations 2018 held under the aegis of Tarnaka Welfare Association and SCOTRWA Women’s Wing, spreading over two days.
Ladies from surrounding colonies of Nagarjuna Nagar, Tarnaka, Gokul Nagar and Kimtee Colony came forward to take part in cooking, singing and quiz competitions. The afternoon of Saturday, March 3, kicked off with a tasting session of all the sweet and savoury dishes that participants had prepared at home and brought to the venue. It proved to be a good ice breaking opportunity and gave a chance for everyone to get acquainted with one another. More than twenty ladies displayed their culinary skills with items ranging from dry fruit laddo to innovative items like carrot laddo, oats with curds, millet khichdi etc.
Singing competition followed next. There was a touch of inclusiveness to the competition with Smt. Hema, a facilities maintenance worker at the venue, figured among the winners. Very aptly, Smt. Hema the worker-contestant, sang a popular folk song ‘Aada pillallamma’ that highlighted the role and importance of a woman in the society. Most of the other songs were patriotic or devotional in nature. Two college students also competed.
A written quiz competition on general knowledge and current affairs was conducted, where 35 questions with answers in multiple choice were to be answered in fifteen minutes.
On March 8, 2018, the guests of honour were Smt. Seshavalli Sundarramaiah (Retd Principal, Queens Mary College), Smt Vidya Srinivas, Spritual mentor and guide, and Dr Nivedita Ashrit, gynecologist. After the lighting of the lamp by the guests of honour, there was a welcome song by Smt Bhanumati. There was Kuchipudi dance recital by the students of Abhinaya Kuchipudi Kalakshetra Dance Academy – Mahita, Jhanavi and Satvika, which delighted the audience with the rendering of Anandanartana Ganapati and Ayameva Ayameva Adi Purusha. Smt Mythili VijayaKumar gave a veena recital.
Guest of Honour Smt Seshavalli gave a clarion call to women’s empowerment without losing out on values and ethics. She noted that working women are now too busy with professional commitments and giving in easily to the demands made by their children, as a result of which the graph of values is going down. We need to bring back values, ethics and morality, she said. Smt Vidya Srinivas spoke at length about the role of Bhakti, Dharma in moulding a stable, peaceful and just society, quoting many shlokas to illustrate her point. Dr Nivedita emphasised the importance of female health in all the stages of life – puberty, reproductive stage, and menopause. Woman is the fulcrum of the family and if she is happy the family is happy, she said.
Prizes were then distributed to: First prize: Smt Rajni for Ragi sankati and Ulava charu; Second prize: Smt JVR Laxmi (Korrala khichdi and Munaga aaku podi) and Smt Malamani (Carrot laddo) Consolation prize: Smt Indira Devi (Dry fruit laddoo). Singing competition: First prize: Smt Rayapidu Bhanumati Second prize: Smt JVR Laxmi Third prize: Smt Hema. Consolation prize: Smt Lalitha. Quiz Competition: Prize winners were: First prize: KVS Laxmi Second prize: JVR Laxmi and Mythili and Consolation Prize: Sujata C and Kumari Saijal.
Smt Swaroopa Rani proposed a vote of thanks. The event was anchored by Ms Sumana. The evening wound up as the audience enjoyed snacks and cool drinks.
By Sujata C
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