Tag: boys

shuktara - Anna, December 2015

Shree Khushi

Posted on by shuktara

shuktara - Anna, December 2015If you’ve never met Anna this will just look like the photo of a young Indian man.

If you’ve met Anna you will know how lovely it is to see Anna smile. We sometimes call him “Shree Khushi” which roughly translates to “Mr. Happy”. Anna needs to feel that his home is stable – the more comfortable he feels, the happier he gets.

To understand why Anna’s happiness, safety and security is so important to us, please read his story here – http://shuktara.org/anna-das/

shuktara 2015 Durga Puja - Sunil

Celebrate Durga Puja 2015 with shuktara!

Posted on by shuktara
Durga Puja is the biggest and most extravagant festival in Kolkata. For weeks everyone watches the pandals (temporary, fabricated structures) being slowly constructed. The one aspect common to all of them is a huge elaborate sculpture of the Hindu goddess Durga. During this Puja everyone at shuktara goes "pandal hopping" to view and enjoy the creative depictions of the goddess and her temporary home.

Sunil is never happier than when there is puja going on – and the biggest and best puja of all is DURGA PUJA!

Ashok
Pappu and Ashok
Pappu with Bapi, Ipshita and Rajesh
Ashok and friends
Lali with Minudi and Tamina
Prity
Ramesh, Sunil and Tamina with two of our mashis - Minu and Sabita
Ashok
Ramesh
Ashok
Rajesh
Lali
shuktara - Ramesh helps with Vishwakarma Puja

Vishwakarma Puja on the roof

Posted on by shuktara
shuktara - Ramesh helps with Vishwakarma Puja

Vishwakarma Puja is usually celebrated in the workplace and always on the roof of the shuktara boys house in Kolkata. Essentially this is a Puja where workers have their tools blessed. This is what Wikipedia says about this festival:
It is generally celebrated on 17 or 18 September in Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Tripura. The festival is observed primarily in factories and industrial areas, often on the shop floor. As a mark of reverence the day of worship is marked not only by the engineering and architectural community but by artisans, craftsmen, mechanics, smiths, welders, industrial workers, factory workers and others. They pray for a better future, safe working conditions and, above all, success in their respective fields. Workers also pray for the smooth functioning of various machines. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools in his name, refraining from using the tools while doing so. Modern electronic servers are also worshipped for their smooth functioning.

Special statues and pictures of Vishwakarma are normally installed in every workplace and factory. All workers gather in one common place and perform the puja .

Below are more photos from shuktara's rooftop celebration...

shuktara - Sanjay and Ratan

Sanjay and Ratan

Posted on by shuktara

shuktara - Sanjay and Ratan
Ratan needs full time care and attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For this we have a full time carer. When he goes to see his family, we all help.

This means washing him, feeding him, changing his nappies and sitting with him holding his hand.

He wakes up smiling every morning and his giggles can be heard throughout the day, unless he needs a bowel movement – then the laughing stops, until that’s done. Then it starts again.

If you feel that you would like to be part of helping us to help him, visit our “DONATE” page, where there are lots of options to help not only Ratan, but all the boys, girls and young people who live in our homes.
THANK YOU
shuktara.org/donate/

Rakhi at shuktara

Posted on by shuktara

Every year in August the 'sisters' of shuktara come to the boys home and tie rakhi on the wrists of their 'brothers' to show their affection. Across most of India the same thing happens - with brothers and sisters who are related by blood but also when that strong family bond is felt between unrelated people. It is a celebration that everyone at shuktara can participate in, and everyone enjoys this festival immensely.

[from Wikipedia] Raksha Bandhan in Sanskrit literally means "the tie or knot of protection". The word Raksha means protection, whilst Bandhan is the verb to tie. It is an ancient Hindu festival that ritually celebrates the love and duty between brothers and their sisters. The sister performs a Rakhi ceremony, then prays to express her love and her wish for the well being of her brother; in return, the brother ritually pledges to protect and take care of his sister under all circumstances.

The festival is also an occasion to celebrate brother-sister like family ties between cousins or distant family members, sometimes between biologically unrelated men and women. To many, the festival transcends biological family, brings together men and women across religions, diverse ethnic groups and ritually emphasizes harmony and love. It is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Śrāvaṇa, and typically falls in August every year.