Manipal: Manipal Academy of Higher Education celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi by launching ‘Daan Utsav’ on Wednesday, October 2. The programme also marked the launch of the “Joy of Giving” festival and a Kidathon that witnessed the participation of over 500 children below the age of 12.
MAHE’s Edu Building came alive on Gandhi Jayanthi and saw children queuing up in order to register for the event. There was enthusiasm on the face of every child as well as the parents who accompanied them.
Manipal Academy of Higher Education celebrated the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi with the launch of Daan Utsav and the event which kicked off the festival “Joy of Giving” was Kidathon in which about 500 kids below 12 years of age participated.
Wednesday’s event was jointly organized by the Volunteer Services Organization, MAHE Sports Council, and Madhava Kripa School Manipal.
The kids walked from the University building to KMC Greens as they shouted slogans such as “Say No to Single Use Plastics”. For registration, each kid brought five items of plastic waste and submitted it to the organisers for recycling .
Before flagging of the Kidathon, MAHE Pro Chancellor Dr H S Ballal said, “The children of today are the leaders of our country tomorrow and the future of the nation depends on them. Let’s join together to make this planet plastic free.”
“This Daan Utsav-2019, MAHE hopes to bring about a significant change in the society around us. We are trying to spread awareness. This can best be done through kids as they have the most impressionable minds and, through them, we can reach out to many families,” said VSO chief coordinator Dr Anup Naha.
