27th Anandha Deepavali Celebrations in Chennai and Sivakasi
October 27, 2024
Udhavum Ullangal’s Public Charitable Trust (UUPCT) celebrated its 27th annual Anandha Deepavali today, bringing warmth and joy to 1,027 children from 11 orphanages and homes across Tamil Nadu. The vibrant event, held in the spirit of giving and compassion, spread festive cheer to hundreds of orphaned children, including those with disabilities.
The day’s celebrations were rooted in the true spirit of Deepavali, lighting up the lives of children who often miss out on the joys of the festival season. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of committed volunteers and generous sponsors, the children enjoyed dance, music, cultural performances, and delicious meals. They also received new clothing of their choice and firecrackers, filling their day with laughter and happiness.
“Our goal with Anandha Deepavali has always been to make this festival of lights a time of genuine joy and togetherness for every child, especially those without families to celebrate with. Anandha Deepavali gave birth to Udhavum Ullangal’s and continues to bring energy to the organization,” shared Sankar Mahadevan, Founder-Trustee of UUPCT.
Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan, former Vice Chairman and CEO of Cognizant Technology Solutions, a dedicated supporter of UUPCT’s cancer care initiatives and one of the first donors for the Nellai Cancer Hospital project, shared heartfelt words: “I am truly happy to celebrate Anandha Deepavali with these wonderful children. Like every adult in the room, I feel a responsibility to help them build a bright future. They are going to make us all very proud.”
We thank our guests Mr. Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director, Accenture, Mrs. Sree Malini Sangeneni, Director of Journal Operations at RELX Group, Mr. M. Krishnamoorthy, Principal Consultant at eNoah, Ms. Rukmini Thiagarajan, Director-CFO, Chennai One IT SEZ, Mr. Selvakumar Rajendran, Partner / Chief Delivery Officer at EY India, Ms. Sangeetha Ravikumar, Manager, World Bank Group of Finance & Accounting, Mr. Raj Raghavan, CHR, CoreStack, a global multi-cloud governance provider and Mr. Sukumar, CEO, TVS Supply Chain Solutions for gracing the occasion.
In Sivakasi, Anandha Deepavali celebrations brought together 200 children, whom we mentored in the last year, to celebrate the spirit of the festival on October 20, 2024.
The celebration was graced by Chief Guest, Mr. Murali, Senior Vice President of Operations at Sripathi Paper and Boards Pvt Ltd, along with distinguished guests Mr. G. M. Srinivasan, Vice President of Administration, and Dr. P. K. Balamurugan, Principal of Sri Kaliswari College (Autonomous), Sivakasi.
“Anandha Deepavali is more than a charity event—it’s a family gathering that brings joy to everyone involved,” said Santhanam, Trustee of UUPCT. For everyone at UUPCT, Anandha Deepavali is a collective commitment to nurturing hope and creating brighter tomorrows.
Mentorship Program, November 2024
The team organized games and held talent show competitions and other interactive sessions for school students. Certificates and prizes were awarded to children who actively participated and won in the games. Children expressed a lot of enthusiasm and excitement about participating in these activities.
During the one-on-one mentorship session, exam results were discussed with the student and their overall academic performance. Constructive feedback and support was provided to students by mentors.
The RELX team conducts a mentorship program for our students in Sivakasi, once every two months. Their active involvement encourages students to not only excel academically but also in their public speaking and communication skills.
