Women’s Festival 2017: Women for Peace, Wadala

📅 April 09, 2017 • 📍 Wadala

The Sahayini Social Development Society organized a three-day Women’s Festival at the Auxilium School Campus, Wadala. Approximately 500 women from the rural and tribal areas of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka, where Sahayini conducts developmental work, participated. April 8: The inauguration included a warm welcome via the *lezim* dance for the Chief Guest, Mrs. Suman Tulsiani of Tulsiani Trust, the Guest of Honour, Prof. R.S.S. Mani, and the Provincial, Sr. Ritha Dora Thomas. The Anmol group led an inaugural prayer where guests, women representatives, and organizers lit the lamp. The Provincial released two white doves to declare the Festival, themed ‘Women for Peace’, officially open. A moment of silence was observed for Sr. Christina Galus, followed by the felicitation of guests with flowers and shawls. Mrs. Tulsiani and Prof. Mani delivered encouraging speeches, and Mrs. Tulsiani donated Rs. 1,00,000/- to Sahayini. The program featured a dance by Grace Harvest children and a street play on women's empowerment by Mrs. Sunita Borkar and her team. Sr. Moksha Anthonappa and Mrs. Levinisia D’Souza animated a creative session on the theme, preparing for the evening’s Peace Rally. After lunch, the women viewed the movie ‘PARCHED’, introduced by its director, Mrs. Leena Yadav. The Peace Rally, led by the Sisters with a large banner, proceeded through the streets of Wadala, Five Gardens, and Our Lady of Dolours Church Road. Sr. Ritha Dora and a guest speaker, Mrs. Nagpuri, urged women to promote peace. The day concluded with a cultural program and a felicitation ceremony honoring Sr. Aruna Castellino and Sr. Phyllis Fernandes (FMAs) as pillars of women's empowerment, along with women leaders, Centre Coordinators, and Organizers. April 9: Catholic women attended a Eucharistic Celebration for Palm Sunday, while others visited Ram Mandir. After breakfast, Mr. Cyril D’Souza and his blind son led a prayer moment honoring the Blessed Mother. Women also set up stalls to display and sell their handiwork. The afternoon featured various tele-games managed by the RVR team (Mr. Rajan, Ms. Vidhi Shah, and Mr. Anthony Devdas). In the evening, the ‘Shruti Sandhaan’ group (musicians and singers) led by Prof. Mani and Dr. Kumarswamy performed an orchestra, encouraging dancing. Chief Justice Krishna was the Chief Guest. April 10: The Festival concluded with a Mumbai Darshan (sightseeing tour). Seven buses full of women visited the Gateway of India, Mount Mary, and Band Stand, with lunch served at the Hanging Gardens. Participants returned home with gratitude, having each received a bag containing useful items.