Bhubaneswar: Daan Utsav, India’s festival of giving, is celebrating 10 years of bringing ‘Joy in Giving’ from October 2 – October 8, 2018. Driven entirely by volunteers, the 10th edition is gearing up for a range of interesting, large scale initiatives across the country. Celebrated across cities in India, DaanUtsav today shared details of their week- long celebrations that are planned in Odisha spread across 35 locations in 15 districts.
This year, the Bhubaneshwar chapter is conducting a range of engaging activities to bring the people of the city together by being a part of the festival of giving. Activities include those that make a difference in society like creating a platform for the visually impaired to showcase their musical talent, supporting orphan and vulnerable children through wish trees and many more.
Apart from Bhubaneshwar, other cities and towns of Odisha will be partaking in the festival through different activities like volunteering at different orphanages and slums of Cuttack, Puri, Barahampur, Boud, Balangir etc, Bullock Cart Procession to collect MuthiBhar Anaj, books and food distribution to children, wish tree to full fill wishes of needy, basic computer training at Acharya Harihar Balashram, Sakhigopal, Sandwich making by eurokids for homeless, blood donation by fishermen of Chandrabhaga, Konark etc. and many other such activities.
The festival has become the biggest platform for philanthropy across India with many NGOs and celebrities associating to make it a bigger success. From CXOs to homemakers, vegetable vendors to designers and schoolchildren to company employees– this is a people’s movement to offer their time, skills, money, etc. for social good. The 2017 edition of the festival saw more than 6 million people from over 200 towns, cities and villages across the country celebrating the festival.
Given below are the details of the key activities planned during this week of giving:
| Date | Activity Details |
| 2nd – 8th October | Vastra Samman – A week long cloth collection drive at different institutions, offices and NGOs around Bhubaneshwar – by PECUC, Bakul Foundation, Mission Odisha, Adhikar etc. |
| 2nd October | DaanUtsav at Bari and its nearby villages, Food Distribution, Cloth collection and distribution will be done at different places |
| 2nd October | Day of Service – A day dedicated by volunteers to orphanages and slums across Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack and other parts of Odisha – They will do Wall painting, Play Music, Photography, Storytelling etc. |
| 5th October | Basic computer training –
A free computer training session would be conducted at various schools around Acharya Harihar Balashram, Sakhigopal, Puri |
| 6th October
6 pm |
Gifting a Family – A unique event to support and extend solidarity for family based care as a solution like adoption, foster care, support the child etc. |
| 6th October
8am to 3 pm |
Badabarsing Seva Mahotsav – This is 3rd year where free stalls made to distribute of needy products to children and elderly of nearby villages |
| 6th – 8th October | Apple collection and Distribution will be at Bhubaneswar, Bhanjanagar, Kamakshyanagar and Phulbani |
| 7th October –
8 am to 1 pm |
Bullock Cart Procession – will start from Singhadwar, Jagannath temple to MausiMaa temple collecting MuthiBharAnaj from public to distribute among needy. |
| 7th October | Film for Maids – People offering film tickets to their maids to see film at multiplex of Cuttack. |
| Events at Schools | SAI International School, DAVs, DPS Dhenkanal, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Puri are planned as regularly since few years. |
| Kindergartens | This year Eurokids of Rasulgarh and Surya Nagar have planned line up activities where children will make sandwiches for other children, Parents and staffs are fulfilling wishes of special children, Thank you cards will distribute to Police Men, Security People, Vendors on Road etc for their service to society. |
Events are planned across the length and breadth of the country, not just in the major metros but even in small towns.
Sharing and giving, brings smiles and happiness not only to the receiver but also to the giver – so let’s celebrate and encourage the spirit of giving with DaanUtsav. Gifting a small sandwich to the hungry child sitting on the streets, or teaching slum children can bring a smile or a real and long-lasting change. The idea of this movement is to create a culture of social commitment among individuals and institutions alike in making differences in the lives of the less privileged with all our support.
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