World Elder’s Day Celebrations.

To start off the month of October it was World Elder’s Day, and on campus there was a big function to celebrate this. However, some of Sevalaya’s old age residents travelled to Chetpet for the International Day of the Old Person celebrations, organised by Helpage India. 25 organisations took part and there were several competitions organised for the elders to participate in. 

Ms Sashikala, Ms Krishnaveni, Ms Susheela and Ms Anusuya from Sevalaya, were all smiles as they showed off the prizes they had won. Group dances, couples’ dances and fancy-dress activities had been organised for them, and when these details were shared, many came forward to participate. The girls in the hostel helped them practice and the elders happily forgot their aches and pains as the excitement of the young girls swept them up in the dancing.  Mr Joseph John and Mrs Victoria took part in the couples dance, and Mr Venkatesan and Mr Ramanathan in the fancy-dress competition.

All who participated were in their sixties and seventies and make up and dresses had been thoroughly planned out and decided. On the morning of the celebrations, all woke up early to get ready with the help and excitement of the children. One of the hostel girls has been training in the community college as a beautician, so helped them get ready. Every participant was enthusiastic, and, in the end, they group dance walked away with third place. Loud cheers filled the room when Sevalaya’s name was called, making them very proud to be representing it. On their return, the participants were warmly welcomed home and happily shared their experiences, much to the joy of everyone.