On the 29th of August 2023, the members of the Mahila Samity, Kolkata chapter embarked on a visit to the Sonarpur anchal in West Bengal to celebrate Rakhi with the Anchal Samity and their dedicated Karyakartas. During this visit, they tied Rakhis to 30 Karyakartas and shared sweets, snacks, and thoughtful gifts. The Karyakartas, in turn, reciprocated by tying Rakhis on the wrists of Mahila Samity members, creating a deeply emotional and meaningful moment for all involved. This interaction served to strengthen the bond between the Mahila Samity members and the Karyakartas. Following this heartwarming exchange, the Mahila Samity members also extended their visit to the chapter office, where they continued the tradition of tying Rakhis with the office staff. This further solidified the connections between the Mahila Samity members and the dedicated office team.
On August 25, 2023, a delightful Sindhara Dooj celebration took place at the Cosmopolitan Club, organised by Mahila Samity, Kolkata Chapter. The event was filled with exciting games and engaging activities. The attendees embraced the traditional spirit of the occasion by adorning themselves in splendid bandhani and lehriya attire. The event featured captivating cultural performances by numerous members, leaving the audience enthralled. As a gesture of goodwill, a plethora of gifts were generously distributed, adding to the festive ambiance.
Ekal Yuva, Kolkata Chapter hosted a remarkable knowledge-building event on 18th August 2023 at Ekal Bhawan in Kolkata. The guest of honor for this event was Swami Vigyananand Ji, a distinguished individual who has been instrumental in the establishment of the World Hindu Congress and the World Hindu Economic Forum. Swami Ji delivered an engaging presentation, augmented by audio-visual elements, that delved into the intricacies of the World Hindu Congress. He passionately expounded on its purpose and overarching goals, shedding light on the profound impact of past World Hindu Congresses. Moreover, he discussed the pivotal role of Hindus on a global scale across various domains, such as the realms of Economy, Education, Media, and Politics. The event drew a substantial and enthusiastic audience, all eager to glean insights from Swami Vigyananand Ji’s extensive knowledge and experience. It was an informative and enlightening session, and its resounding success underscored the significance of the topics covered.
On the 15th of August 2023, the New Alipore Samity of Friends of Tribals Society ,Kolkata Chapter organized an Independence Day celebration at Ekal Bhawan, where a dress code of ethnic attire added a traditional touch to the event. The celebration commenced with Sri Ratan Lal Parekh ji, the Patron, hoisting the Indian national flag, Ekal members and office staff joined in this symbolic act. The celebration was marked by patriotic cultural performances, with numerous children delivering heartfelt patriotic renditions. An engaging patriotic quiz was also organized. To recognize and appreciate the efforts of the perfor
On 6th August 2023 Ekal Yuva, Kolkata Chapter organized a spiritually uplifting event at the residence of ekal member Smt. Shanta Sarda Ji, featuring the revered presence of Pujya Shri Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj, the Treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust. In this enlightening session themed “Ram Janam Bhumi – A Historic Past For a Better Future,”attendees were privileged to receive his profound spiritual wisdom and insights. The evening concluded with the distribution of prasad, and Pujya Shri Swami Govind Dev Giriji Maharaj’s blessings were bestowed upon the devoted who gathered in large numbers to partake in this divine experience.
Ekal Yuva, Kolkata Chapter hosted an enlightening session titled “Roaring Tiger, Menacing Dragon” featuring Mr. Karan Datta on August 5, 2023, at Ekal Bhawan. Mr. Datta is a distinguished speaker and researcher specializing in geopolitics, Indo-China-Russian-American relations, defence, and various other external political and business matters. During the session, Mr. Datta provided an in-depth analysis of topics such as the sudden 5G ban, the semiconductor industry’s strategic dynamics, a comparative assessment of military capabilities with China, and other significant insights. The event garnered a significant turnout, with a substantial live audience present and active participation from remote attendees via Zoom.
On July 31, 2023, Mahila Samity of Kolkata Chapter along with the support of Ekal Yuva hosted the second edition of Ekal Sangini. Ekal Sangini is a lifestyle exhibition, it serves as a perfect platform with a greater purpose to join hands with some of the biggest brands in the fashion, lifestyle, and home decor industries. It brought together eminent designers from the fashion fraternity and acquainted them with the mission of Friends of Tribals Society. The funds raised through this exhibition was directed to support education of students studying in Ekal Vidyalaya. The exhibition was inaugurated by the esteemed fashion designer Jaya Rathore and graced by the presence of notable personalities including actress Sayantani Guhathakuta, Bollywood director Soumik Sen, director Raajorshee De, actress Mallika Banerjee, actor Rahul Dev Bose, Mrs. World International 2022 2nd runner-up Ishu Hirawat, President of WICCI Anuradha Kapoor, and President of FACES Imran Zaki, among others. The footfall at the exhibition was impressive, with all stalls reporting excellent sales. Additionally, we had put up our Ekal stall showcasing Ekal organic products like turmeric, honey, mustard oil , products made of cow dung etc. Over 57 luxury brands enthusiastically participated, and the exhibition received generous support from prominent corporate houses and Mahila Samiti members as sponsors. Some of the notable brands at the exhibition included March Label, PitariPotlis, Arzo Couture Jewels, Zaza India, Flying Bird by Sonu, and many more.
Friends of Tribals Society, Kolkata Chapter organized a symposium on recent changes related to direct tax and indirect tax for charitable trusts and societies on June 24, 2023 at Ekal Bhawan. CA Suresh Kejriwal (Kolkata) and CA Jayesh Gupta (Bangalore) were the guest speakers. They provided valuable information on the relevant exemptions for charitable organizations in addition to direct and indirect taxes, the impact of GST on received receipts, the applicability of RCM, and more. CA Manoj Modi served as the coordinator for the session. This session was integral in gaining important insights into tax planning for a charity organization. Many joined the symposium via Zoom also.
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, Friends of Tribals Society and Shreehari Satsanga Samity, Kolkata Chapter organized “Wholeness Yoga” in collaboration with Isha Yogashala on June 21, 2023 at Ekal Bhawan. In this yoga session, many mudras (postures) were taught by yoga specialists from Isha Yogashala . These mudras are a combination of classical Hatha yoga and guided meditation which are highly beneficial for overall health. Participants actively engaged in the program, learned yoga techniques, and practiced yoga.
Ekal Yuva National Annual General Meeting was hosted by Ekal Yuva, Kolkata Chapter on May 6th and 7th, 2023. Ten out of the sixteen Ekal Yuva chapters from across India, including Bhopal, Bangalore, Delhi, Gwalior, Indore, Prayagraj, Surat, Hyderabad, Ranchi, and the hosts Kolkata chapter, gathered for this significant meeting. Over 40 delegates enthusiastically registered to participate in the AGM. The delegates received a warm and traditional Bengali welcome at Ekal Bhawan, Kolkata Chapter, where the AGM proceedings were conducted. Each chapter presented an overview of the activities they had undertaken in the year 2022-2023. Smt. Nayantara Jain, Ekal Yuva Mentor, and Shri Ramesh Saraogi, National President of FTS, provided guidance and motivation to all the delegates. Smt. Rupa Agarwal, Sah Abhiyan Prabhari (Abhiyan Karyalaya) and Joint Project Coordinator of FTS, gave a comprehensive overview of fieldwork of FTS. Smt. Neha Mittal, Ekal Yuva National President, presented guidelines for Ekal Yuva operations and future goals, along with announcing the new national committee for the year 2023-24. The challenges faced by the various chapters were also discussed. In the evening, an informal gathering was arranged at a snacking café, where the delegates enjoyed numerous fun activities.
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