Author: shuktara

shuktara celebrates Holi, festival of colours

Happy Holi from shuktara!

Posted on by shuktara

Holi is an Indian spring festival also known as the "festival of colours". As Wikipedia says: "It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh."

As you can see from the photos, this is a favorite festival at shuktara, celebrated by everyone.

Happy Holi from all of us at shuktara!

shuktara home for disabled girls

A regular evening at Lula Bari

Posted on by shuktara

Our girls house tutor Priyanka (photo on right) is with the girls most evenings from about 6pm and sometimes stays the night.

Last Thursday night, 15th Feb, Guria and Moni were drawing (we particularly love her fish) while Lali was doing basic Bengali/English and Prity along with Muniya were doing their school homework.

It's great to see Guria taking part in all the activities and Priyanka makes sure that she is included in everything.

Read more about:
Guria
Moni
Lali
Prity
Muniya

Prity will sit exams in a regular school!

Posted on by shuktara

Prity will be sitting her exams in a regular school. She has been attending REACH, the school for students with disabilities where many of our young people study.

She is now enrolled in a local school where she will sit all her exams. We are happy to see inclusion happening here in Kolkata and we wish Prity best of luck on her exams. She is a very bright young lady.

2018 Saraswati Puja at shuktara

Saraswati Puja on the roof

Posted on by shuktara

Every year Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the roof of the shuktara boys' home. All of the young people at shuktara eagerly anticipate wearing new clothes and having kedgeree and prasad. Friends and family are invited to this puja and as you can see, there is always quite a crowd of people having a wonderful time.

shuktara homes

Old friends visit shuktara

Posted on by shuktara

In 1999, the very beginning of shuktara, Alison and Bryan stayed in an upstairs flat in the first shuktara home. Their door was almost always open to the first five boys - Anna, Sunil, Shantara, Bapi and Sanjay.

For the next few years they taught computer skills downstairs in David's flat, shared meals with everyone at shuktara, and even went on vacations to Goa and Puri with the boys. While they lived in Kolkata they were frequent visitors to the shuktara homes.

They recently returned to Kolkata for a visit and absolutely loved being back with the young people of shuktara. They took dozens of photos - here are a few of the best.