Tag: Anna Bari

ShuktaraX25 in London

Posted on by shuktara

On Sunday 13th October we celebrated 25 years of shuktara with our friends and supporters in London. It was wonderful to have Pappu, the chairman of shuktara, with us to celebrate ShuktaraX25. No-one knew he was coming, only David and Pappu’s wife Deepika.

We were delighted to have to our friend and supporter Fern Britton with us to interview David and Pappu.

Thanks also goes out to Xen and Elena and the team at Tsiakkos & Charcoal for their generosity in hosting the event.

And thank you to everyone who came. 

Fern Britton and David Earp smiling
Fern Britton and David Earp
ShuktaraX25 Supporters in London

During the afternoon, we showed this edited clip from the Shuktara Documentary Film which is still in production.

Two people colorfully dressed smiling
Fern Britton and David
Table setting with red napkins, pink roses and heart shaped cookies
Table setting ShuktaraX25
three people sitting on stools in front of a sheet in a restaurant
Fern, David and Pappu
People in a restaurant sitting at small tables listening to a woman and two men talk
Supporters at Tsiakkos & Charcoal

Young disabled woman in brightly coloured sari on a bright blue mat next to a young man lying on a yellow pillow on a pink mat

Saraswati Puja 2024

Posted on by shuktara

On the 14th February we celebrated Saraswati Puja at Anna Bari.

Young woman with red lipstick and gold ornament in her hair wearing an orange sari with woven gold design
Lali
Young man in colourful red and yellow button down shirt smiling very widely
Bappa
Young smiling woman with her hair up in a pink shirt
Muniya
Young woman in pink lipstick smiling, wearing a button-down white shirt with a peter pan collar.
Prity
Young disabled woman in a colourful sari standing on a blue and cream woven plastic mat next to a young man in white kurta on a pink mat
Puja Basak and Aakash
Man smiling with sheer colourful saris over the windows with sunlight pouring in
Pinku
Young disabled woman in a colourful sari sitting on a blue and cream woven plastic mat
Puja Basak
Young man in a fancy black embroidered kurta kneeling on a red plastic mat
Subhash
Older man with beard and gray hair laughing wearing a yellow kurta with red trim. Behind him is a younger man smiling in a fancy red shirt and a young smiling woman in a pink and black sari waving.
Sunil, Bappa and Muniya
Young man in black kurta with arms out to the side smiling
Ashok
statue of sarsawati in colourful headdress with jewelry
the goddess Saraswati
Man in bright yellow button down shirt smiling
Sumon
Puja Basak and Prity give puja wishes
Bablu Lal and Moni
Aarti Blessings before immersion of the Goddess

Shuktara gifted a new ambulance

Posted on by shuktara

A very generous friend of shuktara in Kolkata has gifted us an ambulance. 
On 27 July we had special puja blessings conducted by our pandit Sumanta.

This ambulance will allow us to assist our local community, helping those who don’t have a vehicle, or can’t afford a taxi, to take their loved ones in emergency to the hospital or any other emergency it may be needed for.

We are very thankful for this donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

Pandit Sumanta blessing the new ambulance

girls playing with colours on Holi

Shubho Dol Purnima

Posted on by shuktara

Dolyatra is celebrated in March on varying dates each year, depending on the position of the moon, and this year it fell on March 7. The holiday is similar to Holi and commemorates the last festival of the Bengali calendar.

Pappu and Bapi
Prity
Lali, Prity and Moni
Puja Bagh
Muniya, Pappu and girls at Lula Bari
Muniya
Sunil, Sumon and Bappa
Puja Basak
Bappa, Sunil, Sumon, Bablu, Bapi
Lali and Puja Bagh
Bappa, Sunil, Sumon and Bablu
Guria and Tamina
Pappu at Lula Bari
Puja Bagh
Lali, Pappu at Lula Bari
disabled girls sitting on the floor with dance teacher

Shuktara news from David

Posted on by shuktara

We celebrated Holi on Friday, 18th March, which is always looked forward to and enjoyed by everyone.
Our Dance Tutor Dev Ambuly (see photo above) came over especially to visit the two homes and as you can see, our new Puja is thoroughly enjoying herself in her new surroundings at Lula Bari.

The initial group of shuktara residents who received their first vaccine have now received their second and everyone who lives and works at shuktara continues to be well.
You may remember that Pappu chose the group who spend more time outside the homes to be vaccinated, in the hope it would protect them, their families and the more vulnerable ones that are in Lula Bari and Anna Bari. This seems to have worked and as I said – everyone is and has always stayed well.

Celebrating Holi at Anna Bari
Puja Basak and Lali

Our hopes and dreams of the Shuktara Cakes Café are happening slowly, with teams here and in Kolkata working to make sure everything is done properly, legally and safely.
Pappu will be working with a consultant who has already set up three cafes in Kolkata. They will prepare a thoroughly costed business plan and budget so the Shuktara Trust UK trustees can ensure the cafe can operate cost effectively both in the short and long term.

I really appreciate all the support you have shown since 1999 and now that things are safer the UK trustees and I will be able to get together soon to discuss fundraising strategies to continue supporting the homes, ensuring that they have more than sufficient funds for shuktara’s annual running costs and get the Shuktara Cakes Cafe off the ground.

Of course, any of you that wish to run marathons or help us in any way – please get in touch!!!!!!!!!

My very best wishes

David Earp

Four young women standing beneath a Happy New Year banner

Happy New Year!

Posted on by shuktara

Everyone at shuktara continues to stay well with new restrictions coming into force.
On the 1st January we celebrated Sumon’s birthday as well as a new year and on the 3rd everyone got together at Anna Bari for lunch.

  • Muniya, Lali, Tamina and Moni
  • Sumon celebrates his birthday
  • Muniya and Guria at Lula Bari
  • Tamina, Moni, Muniya, Ramesh, Sumon

Happy New Year from everyone at shuktara!

shuktara - Sunil wearing flag mask

Independence Day at shuktara

Posted on by shuktara

On midnight 15th August 1947 India became independent. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Indian Prime Minister said these words “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.”

This year marks the 74th Independence Day celebration. All over India people observe this important day with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events.

At Anna Bari, the shuktara boys home, Pinku returned to join in the celebration. Pinku is now living independently and supporting himself. After raising the flag Pinku set a green kite to fly free, much to the delight of Bappa (see the photos below). Bappa had fun moving his wheelchair in circles (video below). And Sunil, who absolutely loves the Indian flag, wore a mask embellished with the tricolour of saffron, white and green.

Meanwhile at Lula Bari the girls gathered around the flag and sang the Indian National Anthem with Pappu. The video is below – keep watching to see Muniya lift her fist in a salute to Indian independence!