Nagpur: In a novel manner, the members of Rani Laxmibai Durga Utsav Mandal, who have been successfully organizing the Navratri Festival since last eight years with massive participation of citizens, particularly from Theyst Nagpur area are planning to host a slew of socio-cultural programmes depicting issues like India’s freedom struggle, illiteracy, autism, and child-labour among others during this Navratra Festival.
This year too, they intend to organize a host of similar programmes and dedicate the event to noted freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar. They will be setting up a pictorial gallery depicting his immense contribution to country’s freedom struggle, including his great escape from Cellular Jail in Andaman’s and Nicobar Islands. It will be a fitting tribute to revolutionary fighter on his 100th birth anniversary, whose efforts played a significant role in India achieving independence from the British.
Last year, they displayed a pictorial gallery on history and achievements of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Headquartered in Nagpur, that evoked an overwhelming response from the visitors, including noted dignitaries like MLC Anill Sole, noted homoeopath Dr Vilas Dangre, prominent Marathi actor Sharad Ponkshe, senior RSS functionaries – Dilip Gupta and Sudhir Warhadpande, RSS Women’s Wing chairperson Shanta Akka, and Mayor Pravin Datke. Previously, the a host of popular figures visited their Mandal, including noted yesteryears actress Asha Parekh, Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Rajya Sabha MPs Ajay Sancheti and Vijay Darda and others.
The Mandal also conducts a lot of social activities throughout the year like visiting ‘Matoshree Old Age Home’ near Adasa and helping them with medicines and food grains, visiting ‘Platform School’ and helping the children with books and study material, cleaning the Laxmi Nagar volleyball ground by members themselves where festival is organized under ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’ launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and setting up artificial tanks on Laxmi Nagar grounds for immersion of Ganesh Idols to save the precious water bodies from getting polluted every year.
Their members also claimed to celebrate the birthdays of their kids and other functions at these places with a view to lend a helping hand to them emotionally and financial, as a part of our social responsibility. Last year, they had invited Ramdaspeth-based ‘Sanmvedna School of Autism’ that works for autistic children, to partner us in the event, as a part of their social responsibility. They helped them to raise the funds for poor autistics kids by using their platform. A musical extravaganza of ‘Indian Idol’ winner Rahul Saxena and ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ winner Vaishali Made, attracted a crowd of over 10,000 citizens last year. Besides, a lecture on life of Sawarkar by Sharad Ponkshe, and Marathi comedy drama on life in rural area titled ‘Khumkhumi’ by renowned Marathi actor Vjay Kadam, were also staged.
Starting from scratch in 2006, this Mandal has grown over the years to become only in entire Central India to host the Navratri Festival with variety of socio-cultural programmes that had guaranteed footfalls of over 5,000 visitors per day. A dedicated team of about 50 youngsters and elders, which is a right combination of youthful exuberance and experience, work together round the clock to make this event a mega success. News cutting in various newspapers speaks about our work. They take the distinction of being first Mandal in Vidarbha to have its dedicated theybsite – www.laxminagardurga.in.
This year as they would be hosting many socio-cultural programmes aimed at evoking feelings of patriotism among the masses during the nine-day event. They request the citizens of Nagpur to join them in this purely noble and charitable cause and help them to make it successful by spreading the message of peace and brotherhood in the society.
All the programs are scheduled at 7.00 pm onwards. Date wise details are as follows:
October 13:– Installation of Durga Devi Idol at Laxmi Nagar Volleyball Ground
October 14: – Inauguration of ‘Pictorial Gallery’ on Damodar Sawarkar.
October 15: – ‘Sanyastha Khadag’, play written by Sawarkar on freedom struggle.
October 16: – ‘Latasha’, musical extravaganza on melodious songs rendered by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar and noted singer Asha Bhonsle by latest sensation — Saavani Ravindra.
October 17: – ‘Geet Ramayan’ a dance balley by theyll known Kathak dancer Sonia Parchure and her troupe of 35 artists from Mumbai.
October 18:– ‘Live Concert’, from Bollywood artistes on Hindi-Marathi songs.
October 19: – ‘Cultural Extravaganza’ for local citizens (children and women).
October 20: – ‘Jagran’, by popular singer Kamlesh Pandey and his troupe.
October 21: – ‘Navchandi Yadnya’ and Maha Prasad for devotees from Mandal. Same day — ‘Gappa Cricket Chya’ with legend Dilip Vengsarkar by Dwarkanath Sanzgiri.
October 22 – ‘Dussehra Milan’ programme for all citizens.
October 23 – Big procession in Laxmi Nagar and Bajaj Nagar with traditional band and Lazim followed by immersion at Telangkhedi lake.
