Tag: Sunil

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!

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.

shuktara - featured 2017 November - Belinda and Sunil

Pizza party with Belinda

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When Belinda is in Kolkata she always visits shuktara. Usually it's a night out at Fire and Ice to have the best pizza in Kolkata. This time the party included some of the young people from shuktara and a small group of friends. Thank you Belinda!

shuktara - 2017 October - Tamina twirling a sparkler

Diwali – the festival of light

Posted on by shuktara

Diwali is Hindu New Year - also called the Festival of Lights, a holiday that all of shuktara look forward to with joyful anticipation.

The festivities begin at dusk as candles are lit in all of the windows, up the stairs, and around the perimeter of the roof. Everyone enjoys lighting sparklers and crackers as well as watching the fireworks that explode above the rooftops of Kolkata. It's a magical celebration however it's possible that no one enjoys it quite as much as Sunil.

shuktara homes for young people with disabilities - 2017 - 1st July, 18th anniversary of shuktara - Sunil, Pappu and Anna

18th Anniversary of shuktara

Posted on by shuktara

shuktara started on 1st July 1999 so yesterday we celebrated our 18th anniversary! Sunil and Anna were the very first young people to come to shuktara on this day.

Today shuktara has two homes where 23 young people live as a family. The original idea was to give young people with disabilities a real home, somewhere they could feel safe and know was their forever home.

Just look at Anna’s smile because that says more than we could ever express in words.
#shuktarasmiles #myshuktara #shuktaramiracle

shuktara home for young people with disabilities - 2017 March - Sunil creating a doll

A fan of Sunil’s dolls

Posted on by shuktara
Back in March we posted photos of Sunil's latest obsession - his handmade dolls. David sent one of his creations to Geoffrey Farmer and here's what he said...

I returned home from Venice slightly torn and tattered only to open this gorgeously wrapped box and find this beautiful doll made by Sunil Das from Kolkata India. Wow, he fits so perfectly into our family here! So honoured and touched and inspired that David Earp would have sent to me from Shuktara Homes, a project he established to create a home for children who are in need of a family. @shuktara_homes @davidearp

I saw this doll on Instagram and read the story about Sunil who makes them and places them around the house and neighborhood. An action and spirit I strongly connect to. Now magically his beautiful creation is here. Sunil is one of the first boys that David helped in 1999 Thank you Sunil for your beautiful gift. Please follow, support this project. Thank you David it is an incredible gift.....!!! You can read about Sunil Das here. #shuktara #sunildas #artist #deafpride #themaster

@anhourbeforesleep (Geoffrey Farmer)