24/10
Dear Members,
Jai Jinendra and Jai Shree Krishna,
KENDRA’S DIWALI DHAMAKA PROGRAMME
AT VIP LOUNGE ON TUE – 22/10
Tuesday - 22/10, was a sunny day with mild temp of 14C when we had our third consecutive Diwali Dhamaka programme at VIP Lounge with full day of music. This time yet again Vasant Malde (who normally arranges music groups for our programmes) had kept everyone guessing as to who will be the singers from India and will they be able to perform to our requirements. Everyone waited with bated breadth until the music started.
Members were so excited that many had turned up at the venue very early, even before the time we had announced doors will be opened. Everyone was full of enthusiasm wearing smart dresses, colourful saris, sarwal khamiz or suits. This time we had given Table numbers earlier so that when attendees came, they knew where to seat. After showing their tickets to the volunteers at the entrance, members and guests entered the Hall. Those who had no Table numbers were helped by lady committee members.
On entering the Hall, everyone was given mixed nuts smartly packed into a cone shaped packet with ribbons by Binaben, Rasilaben and Prabhudasbhai Shah, as a welcome treat. The family has been doing this every year. Members really appreciated and enjoyed the nuts.
In the hall on a table at the side, our member Preetiben Shah had made an eye-catching beautifully decorated Rangoli.
All the tables in the Hall were colourfully decorated in White, green or purple clothes and so was the Hall with coloured lights. The stage was nicely placed in the centre with purple light on the ceiling. There were three large screens showing photos of last year's programme. Even in the entrance lobby there was a screen. There were several revolving spotlight on the ceiling and the ambience was indeed noteworthy.
Today’s attendance was a record 385 members and guests, which is now becoming a norm in our special programmes with live music. This shows how popular our programmes are growing day by day now.
Our Secretary - Jayantbhai Doshi was the MC for the programme and he welcomed everyone wishing all a Happy Diwali and prosperous New Year. He also welcomed all invited guests giving brief introductions and thanking them for all their support and help to NVKendra. In his special welcome for guests, Jayantbhai mentioned that Manishaben - our Yoga Guru, had been conducting Yoga for NVK for over 12 years now and members had really benefited healthwise by doing Yoga. We all agree that she has been instrumental in keeping us healthy because of her help to every individual member to ensure that everyone does the Yoga poses correctly. No doubt we are immensely thankful to her for our fitness.
On the stage in the centre of Hall was the music Group - Orchestra Sargam from India with eight members, including a lady singer. Music started on the dot - at 11.00 am and soon everyone knew this was a Music Group that all loved to hear. Everyone was in a joyous mood and joined in clapping and encouraging the singers. As soon as the music started, the dance floor was crowded with dancing members and this continued till the end.
The Group - the lady and three other singers sang several oldies and unforgettable tunes from the “Bhuli Bishri Yadeein”, which were highly applauded as members also started to sing with the melodious tunes. Several requests from members for their favourite songs were sung to the delight, dancing and clapping by members. The Gujarati Garbas were a hit and the dancing floor was packed with members performing garbas. Everyone praised this group with their melodious and tuneful songs.
It was a matter of pride for NVK to see so many members in their seventies and eighties laughing and talking and taking part in Garbas so joyfully and happily without any care in the world.
At 12.40 pm the tasty starters were served on the tables : Patra, Crispy Gujarati Samosa, Chilli Fried Mogo, and Aloo Papri Chaat with chutneys. Everyone enjoyed these starters, whilst the music continued. More and more refills were supplied when requested and members ate sumptuously.
When there was a break for lunch for the Musicians, Jayantbhai Doshi announced that there will be a draw for the Raffle prizes and gave details of how the draw will be done. Previously we had collected all the counterfoils from the Ticket Books for sold tickets and all these were folded and put in a decorated box which was then taken by lady volunteers around random tables where they asked members to draw out a winning ticket for numbers one to ten. The numbers were then announced and the winners identified themselves and were requested to collect their prizes at the end of the programme.
PRIZES
DONOR
PRIZE
WINNING
TKT
WINNER
1ST
SKYLINK - ANIL BHAGI
£200 TRAVEL VR
246
KANCHANBEN
AMRATLAL SHAH
2ND
ANJANA & KISHOR VASA
NECKLACE/EARRING WITH
SWAROVSKI CHRYSTALS
492
MANISHABEN WALA
3RD
BHARTI & PANKAJ SHAH
£105 GIFT VR
192
HANSABEN MANDALIA
4TH
HANSA & SURENDRA MANDALIA
COOKER
281
SUSHILABEN MANIAR
5TH
ANONYMOUS DONOR
WATER FILTER KETTLE
135
SAROJ JAGDISH SHAH
6TH
PRIYA MANDALIA
STEEL THERMAL POT
156
PRAFULLA B KOTHARI
7TH
KRISHNA & KIRITI MEHTA
DOUGHNUT MAKER
478
HANSABEN MEHTA
8TH
JYOTIBEN SHANTILAL GANDHI
COFFEE MAKER
435
REKHABEN PATEL
9TH
JYOTIBEN SHANTILAL GANDHI
COFFEE MAKER
225
BHARTIBEN DOSHI
10TH
RASILABEN & PRABHUDAS SHAH
JUICE MAKER
161
BHADRABEN MEHTA
President -Vinod Parekh then welcomed all present and wished them a very Happy Diwali and New Year. He said this is the third time we have arranged our Diwali Dhamaka programme at VIP Lounge and it is getting very popular. Today we have a record members and guests and wished that they will have a great time. Recently our weekly attendance has averaged 250 and this is a good sign that our Yoga and activities have now become a major attraction and that will boost our efforts to bring new ideas and programmes. He said this year we did 3 trips of 5 days each through our travel agent and these have been very successful and members had splendid time. The point to be noted about these trips is that cost for members is always kept at lowest price and we do not collect anything for tips as this is already included in the cost. More trips will be arranged next year. Another activity which has really given our members a chance to serve disabled and dementia patients at care homes. This was pioneered by Pragnaben Mandalia and now continued by Purnimaben Mehta. We have visited many care homes and the residents have really enjoyed our activities which we perform for them. Please join us and take part in the activity when we call you. Coming to Yoga which we do at Centre has really helped the health of members and he gave his own experience of his wife - Kundan who had a hip operation done recently and performing Yoga daily at home has really given her a speedy recovery. He also thanked Binaben Shah for giving us charity tickets so that our elderly members can enjoy. Last week's show "Bahubaali" at Royal Albert Hall was fantastic and throughly enjoyed by members.
He then announced the following donations : * We are pleased to announce our member - Meenaben and Anil Keshavlal Shah have donated to Kendra a handsome sum of £500 to celebrate their 42nd Wedding Anniversary, which is today. Our heartiest congratulations to the couple and pray for long life and many more to come. Moreover, in August, Anil reached a milestone - 70th birthday. Congratulations from Kendra. Anil does a lot of voluntary work on our Thursday gatherings.
* £25 from an Anonymous Donor.
* £20 from Geetaben and Kishor Parmar.
* £25 from Manjulaben Chandrakant Shah on the occasion of her daughter - Nishma's 50th birthday and Nishma and Hiten's 25th wedding anniversary. Congratulations and Best Wishes from Kendra.
£71 from Shantaben Pindoria who celebrated her 70th birthday on 20/10. Kendra's Best Wishes and pray that she will enjoy many more birthdays to come.
*£151 from Indravadan Sheth on the first 'tithi' of his late wife - Shardaben Sheth.
*£
V.President - Dr. Vinodbhai Kapashi gave Vote of Thanks to following :
* All who attended today's programme in such large numbers for their support and making the programme a huge success.
* Preetiben Shah for displaying the colourful Rangoli on the Table at the entrance.
* Skylink Travel & Tours - Anil Bhagi for printing the tickets.
* Prabhudasbhai, Rasilaben and Binaben for sponsoring nuts/snacks every year.
* VIP Lounge Management and Catering staff for their excellent service.
* Vasant Malde for arranging the melodious Musical Band from India.
* All donors of Raffle Prizes and other donors.
* Pragnaben Mandalia for arranging the Walking Group every Thursdays.
* Purnimaben Mehta for compiling the attendee's list and also preparing the Table allocations.
* All volunteers.
He also mentioned that we will not meet now until next Thurs - 31/10, when we will be having the "Diwali Mithaii" and "Aarti Thali" competitions and requested members to take part.
Nimaben Kakad then came and wished Diwali greetings to all and recited a very interesting "kavita" which praised all the work and activities of NVK, stating that NVK is a big family and we all come to meet each other and enjoy the fellowship. She raised three cheers for NVK.
Lalit Mehta came and sang a Diwali song.
Jayantbhai Doshi then announced that the initial winner of 4th Prize for the Raffle was Dr. Pragnaben Mandalia - ticket no 281. However she had kindly retuned the prize to be redrawn. Her magnanimous gesture was highly appreciated by all. The draw was made and the holder of ticket no 319 - Sushilaben Maniar won the prize.
Everyone then joined in singing the "Happy Birthday" song for Anil Keshavlal Shah who had celebrated his birthday in August and today he and Meenaben were celebrating their 42nd Wedding Anniversary.
Anilbhai Shah requested to say a few words and he thanked everyone for their wishes and he was immensely proud and happy that for first time in his life so many people had wished him together.
The current Managing Committee members were requested to come near the stage so that the attendees could know them. A group photo was taken.
The tuneful music continued after the break whilst the Main course was served on every table and the Jain menu was served in the Foyer. The Main course included Amrat Pak, Malai Kofta curry, Bhindi & Capsicum, Aloo Palak, Gujarati Kadhi, Biryani, Masala Puri, Tandoori Roti, Cucumber Jeera Raita, Sweetcorn Salad. For Dessert there was ice cream.
Members continued dancing and performing garbas with melodious tunes from the Orchestra. The lady singer was just amazing as she continued singing oldies and Qwalis. In between she recited several shairies for most of the songs. She also announced that their band was very happy to perform for the elderly members and to see all of them enjoying and taking part in the dances and garbas.
Finally a member - Jeetendra Mehta came forward on behalf of all present to thank the President, Secretary and all Executive Committee members for organising such a grand programme with delicious food and wonderful music by the Orchestra.
Everyone enjoyed the fantastic music and applauded them. The programme ended after 3.45 pm and many members talked about the very enjoyable programme. The food and the music were also excellent. From the members views, it seemed this was yet another fantastic programme we have had so far.
After the programme we have been inundated with numerous messages of congratulations, appreciation and enjoyment of the excellent programme and the delicious food. To all those who sent us such messages, The Executive Committee has to say that members’ satisfaction and enjoyment is our reward for all our efforts. When members enjoy and give us credit, it also gives us the impetus, a lot of pleasure and encouragement and we hope to continue to work even better for the elderly in future.
PRAFUL SHAH
PRO - NVK
REMEMBER : We are meeting next on Thurs - 31st Oct when the programme is "Diwali Mithaii" and "Aarti Thalii"competition. Please come prepared.
Chimanbhai Sheth took over 200 photographs of the programme and all these will be uploaded on our Website - Galleries. Direct link : Galleries | Navjivan Vadil Kendra.