Visit to a Winter Carnival at RGLEI Kolkata

On 2nd January 2025, the children of Jan Seva enjoyed a delightful New Year carnival at the Regional Grand Lodge of Eastern India (RGLEI), Freemasons, located at 19 Park Street, Kolkata. The Freemasons Hall is centrally situated between the Park Hotel and Karnani Mansion, providing a picturesque venue for this joyful event.

The afternoon was filled with exciting activities to entertain the children, including various sizes of bouncy castles, trampolines, and a mesmerizing dragon dance. The dragon dancers were specially arranged from the Chinese community, where the Dragon Dance is a traditional performance, typically seen during festive celebrations like the Chinese New Year. For the children of Jan Seva, many of whom come from poor and marginalized backgrounds, this fun-filled event was an unforgettable experience. The children were so immersed in the fun that they played non-stop, riding the bouncy castles without a hint of tiredness, and never once feeling hungry as they spent the afternoon outdoors under the bright sunshine.

Even the specially-abled children from UDAAN, who were unable to leave their wheelchairs, thoroughly enjoyed the vibrant Dragon Dance performance. The dragon dance is a traditional Chinese performance in which a long, flexible dragon puppet is manipulated by a team of dancers using poles, creating an enchanting spectacle.

During the event, the children were treated to a large box of snacks, which they ate while sitting on the grounds of RGLEI. As a special gesture of appreciation, each child received a gift hamper from the esteemed guests, who took time out of their busy schedules to spend the afternoon with the children of Jan Seva. After a day full of laughter and joy at RGLEI, the children boarded their bus to return to Jan Seva, eagerly anticipating the next year’s celebration.

The event was graced by the Board Members of RGLEI, including the Regional Grand Master Mr. Parvez Serosh Kaikobad, Regional Grand Secretary Mr. Anil Khullar, and Deputy Regional Grand Master Mr. Amarendra Banerjee. Other notable attendees from RELEI included Mr. Dipankar Gupta, Mr. Kailash Ahuja, Mr. Santanu Majumdar, and Mr. Tilak Shankar Majumdar. Their presence added to the warmth and significance of this wonderful occasion for the children.