newsletter - Vanza Mandal

AL
DAL
VANZA MANDAL
VANZA MANDAL
2015
newsletter
contents
1.
Vanza Mandal’s Message
2.
AGM & Janmastmi Bhajans
3.
Navratri 2015
4. Sharad Poonam
5. Diwali 2015
6. Children’s Xmas & Diwali Party
7. Charity of the Year
8. Vanza Mandal Support
9. Last 12 Months
10.
Month of Purshottam
11. Veer Saddling Up
Dear all, Jai Gopal
It gives me great pleasure to say a few words in this issue of our annual newsletter.
Over the last 12 months we have had a number of successful events namely
the AGM, Janmastmi Bhajans, Navratri, Diwali, Children’s Xmas Party, and the
Hanuman Chalisa. These events are our annual events and it is with your support
that we continue to do these every year. Over the next few years our aim is to
build into our diary additional annual events so that we have an annual calendar of
fixed events. If you have any thoughts regarding future events please let us know.
One of the key points is to inform you of our new logo which is on the front cover
of this newsletter. With the increased use of technology we have had to update
our logo to make sure that it meets the requirements of printers and publishers
and also to use it on our Website and other electronic communications.
We would also like to stress the importance of the Annual General Meeting, we
would like to see more members attend these so that you can have your say but
more importantly you know in detail what we the Management Committee have
been doing and what we have been involved in. This year is also an election year,
which means that there will be an election of the Office Bearers and Committee
Members. We would like to see new faces on the Committee and fresh ideas, if
you are interested or would like to know more about any of the roles then please
do not hesitate to contact either myself or any member of the Management
Committee.
You will have also noticed through a lot of our communications that the Vanza
Mandal Support group is now up and running and Nareshbhai Pithia and his team
of volunteers have now been providing an invaluable service to members of our
community and we urge you to support them in any way you can. Further details of
the VMS are included in this newsletter.
Our aim this year has also been to reach out to the younger generation and we are
trying to make use of the technology available to us. To keep you informed of what
we are doing, we have started issuing monthly updates via email. If you would like
to be included in our mailing list please send an email to comms@vanzamandal.
com. We are also making use of Facebook and Twitter so please join us there and
we will share information through this and we are also attempting to show live
feeds of our events as and when they happen. Finally we have also upgraded our
website vanzamandal.com and we are posting information, photos and videos
through this method.
So as you can see there is a lot of work and new initiatives going on in the back
ground to build on what we have and we will continue to serve you, our members
in the best way we can.
Once again thank you for all your support throughout the last 12 months and for
the coming months ahead
Rashmi Lalji Makwana
Assistant Secretary Vanza Mandal
agm &
janmastmi
bhajans
7
THE VANZA MANDAL
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
AND TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE
TO INVITE YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY TO THE VANZA MANDAL
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
AND JANMASTMI BHAJANS.
13TH
SEPT
2015
Harold Road Centre
170 Harold Road
London E13 0SE
AGM
2-4pm
Dinner
4-6pm
Bhajans
6-9pm
THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING
1
WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT
2
MINUTES FROM THE LAST AGM
3
SECRETARY’S REPORT
4
TREASURER’S REPORT
5
APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT
AUDITOR
6
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR 8.
A.O.B
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION THIS
YEAR. WE NEED A QUORUM OF 25 PAID MEMBERS PRESENT
TO START THE MEETING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MAY WISH TO RAISE DURING THE MEETING,
INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTION CHANGES, PLEASE SEND
THEM TO US 14 DAYS PRIOR TO THE AGM. IF YOU HAVE
OTHER QUERIES REGARDING THIS MEETING PLEASE
DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT SHOULD THE
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON 13 SEPTEMBER 2015 BE
ADJOURNED DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM, THE ADJOURNED
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WILL TAKE 20 MINUTES AFTER
THE SAID ADJOURNMENT.
8
9
navratri
2015
STARTS
13TH
OCT
2015
East Ham Town Hall
Hight Street South
East Ham E6 2RP
7:00pm
THE NIGHT BEGINS
8:00pm
FIRST ARTI
10:30pm
SECOND ARTI*
PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY AND PROMPTLY SO
WE CAN START ON TIME. ANYONE WISHING
TO SING OR PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT ARE
WARMLY WELCOME.
* THE TIME OF THE SECOND ARTI IS SUBJECT TO
CHANGE
10
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
THERE WILL BE DAILY £3 ADMISSION
FEE FOR EVERYONE OVER THE AGE
OF 18. ANYONE WHO IS A FULLY
PAID MEMBER WILL BE EXEMPT
FROM THIS FEE. IF YOU WISH TO
BRING A GUEST WITH YOU YOU CAN
BRING A MAXIMUM OF 2 GUESTS.
YOU WILL NEED TO BE A PAID
MEMBER AND YOUR GUEST WILL
BE CHARGED THE ADMISSION FEE.
YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
YOUR GUEST. THE MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO
REFUSE ENTRY.
navratri
2015
11
ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE A
DONATION TOWARDS THE COST OF
HIRING THE HALL, OR WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE A DONATION OF £25.25
TOWARDS THE MILK AND PRASHADI,
PLEASE CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF
THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS WILL BE HELD DURING
NAVRATRI AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO TAKE PART AND ESPECIALLY
REQUEST THAT YOU ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNGER
GENERATION.
TUE
13TH OCT
2015
THUR
15TH OCT
2015
SAT
17TH OCT
2015
MON
19TH OCT
2015
EVENT: Decorated
Garbo
DRESS CODE
Female: Red
Male: Red Jabho
DRESS CODE
Female: Orange
Male: Blue Jabho
EVENT: Fancy Dress
DRESS CODE
Female: Bhandani Any
Colour
Male: Bhandani Jabho
DRESS CODE
Female: Mehndi
Male: Cream Jabho
WED
14TH OCT
2015
DRESS CODE
Female: Purple
Male: Grey Jabho
FRI
16TH OCT
EVENT: Prize auction for
charity & Children’s Arti
DRESS CODE
Female: Purple
Male: Grey Jabho
2015
SUN
18TH OCT
2015
TUES
20TH OCT
2015
EVENT: Arti Plate
Decoration & Marathon
DRESS CODE
Female: Silk Saree any
colour
Male: Silk Jabho
EVENT: 108 Arti & Garbo
DRESS CODE
Female: Garchoru or Red
& Green
Male: Red or Green
Jabho
12
DECORATED
GARBO
navratri
2015
13
THIS IS NOT SO MUCH A COMPETITION BUT A
CHANCE FOR YOU ALL TO DECORATE A GARBO.
TRADITIONALLY, DURING THE NINE DAYS OF
NAVRATRI WE ALL LIGHT A DEEVO INSIDE A GARBO
AT HOME. THE DECORATION OF A GARBO CAN
VARY IN AN ARRAY OF COLOURS BUT WHY NOT
GO BACK TO THE TRADITION AND DECORATE A
CLAY GARBO. GET YOUR CHILDREN INVOLVED
IN THE DECORATION AND LIGHTING A DEEVO,
MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE
AND GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO PASS ON THE
KNOWLEDGE WHEN THE TIME COMES. OUR AIM IS
THAT FROM THE FIRST DAY ONWARDS WE LIGHT A
DEEVO IN EACH OF THE GARBA’S THUS CREATING
A WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE. WE SINCERELY
REQUEST THAT YOU ARRIVE EARLY EACH EVENING
TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LIGHTING THE
DEEVO YOURSELF. OUR ONLY REQUEST IS THAT
YOUR GARBO BE MADE OF CLAY, THAT YOU’VE
DECORATED IT YOURSELF AND PLEASE DON’T
FORGET THE ‘INDHONI’. NO PRE-DECORATED
GARBOS.
IF INTERESTED, PLEASE SEND IN YOUR NAME. FOR
SAFETY REASONS WE WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTING
THE FIRST 9 NAMES AND SUBMISSIONS WILL BE
TREATED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY OR FURTHER
INFORMATION
PLEASE CONTACT:
RASHMI MAKWANA: 07958 660 012
OR EMAIL
[email protected]
PRIZE AUCTION
FOR CHARITY
THIS IS A NEW EVENT THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY ONE OF OUR
MEMBERS. A SURPRISE PRIZE WILL BE AUCTIONED AND THE PERSON
WITH THE HIGHEST BID WILL TAKE THE PRIZE. ALL BID MONEY RAISED
WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY.
CHILDRENS
ARTI
AS THIS WONDERFUL EVENT WAS A BIG SUCCESS LAST YEAR, WE
WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL YOUNGSTERS BETWEEN THE AGES
8 AND 15 TO PARTICIPATE. AN ARTI PLATE WILL BE PROVIDED TO ALL
WHO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR NAMES AND PARTICIPANTS WILL THEN
PERFORM THE 10:30PM ARTI.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY THE NAMED CHILD WILL BE ALLOWED TO
DO THE 10:30AM ARTI AND FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE ASKED TO
STAND BACK AS THIS GIVES THE PARTICIPANT A CHANCE.
TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY OR FURTHER INFO PLEASE CONTACT:
EMAIL [email protected]
OR REGISTER AT THE TREASURER’S TABLE.
ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 15th OCTOBER 2015
14
FANCY
DRESS
THIS EVENT CREATES GREAT INTEREST EVERY
YEAR AND TO ENSURE THIS REMAINS CONSISTENT,
THIS YEAR’S THEME IS NOT RESTRICTED TO
NAVRATRI AND HINDUISM. ENTRANTS CAN WEAR
SUPER HERO COSTUMES, COME DRESSED AS
YOUR FAVOURITE CARTOON CHARACTER OR IF
PREFERRED, COME DRESSED AS A HINDU GOD…
CHOICE IS YOURS. THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL
AGE GROUPS AND EVERYONE PARTICIPATING IS
A WINNER SO TAKE PART, HAVE FUN AND EVEN IF
YOU’RE NOT A PARTICIPANT, WE ENCOURAGE ALL
GUESTS TO DRESS UP. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
RETAIN THE RIGHT TO REFUSE PARTICIPIATION IF
THE COSTUME IS DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE
navratri
2015
15
EMAIL [email protected]
OR REGISTER AT THE TREASURER’S TABLE
ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 16th
OCTOBER 2015
ARTI
COMPETITION
THIS IS A CHANCE TO SHOW YOUR CREATIVE
SKILLS IN DESIGNING AN ARTI THALI.
THE COMPETITION WILL BE JUDGED IN THREE
AGE GROUPS. ALL ARTI PLATES MUST CONSIST OF
ONLY 5 DEEVAS.
EMAIL [email protected]
OR REGISTER AT THE TREASURER’S TABLE
ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 17TH
OCTOBER 2015
108 ARTI &
GARBO
THIS EVENT IS A MUST. SINCE WE BEGAN THIS IN 2000 THIS HAS BEEN
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NAVRATRI. THE DEEVAS OF 108 ARTI THALIS
ARE ALL LIT CREATING A UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE GIVING EVERYONE
A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERFUL UNITY ALL VANZA
BANDUS SHARE DURING THIS EVENT. FOLLOWING THE EVENT AND
COMPLETE THIS GREAT EVENT WILL BE A GARBO.
ANY LADIES OR GENTLEMEN WISHING TO PARTICIPATE OR REQUIRE
FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT;
SUDHABEN ON 020 8471 6091 OR SHOBNABEN ON 07412 492 144
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS ARE RESTRICTED TO 16 LADIES & 16
GENTLEMENT, THEREFORE SUBMISSION WILL BE TREATED ON A FIRST
COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
RAFFLE
DRAW
AS PER VANZA MANDAL TRADITION, EVERY YEAR THERE WILL BE A
RAFFLE DRAW ON THE LAST DAY OF NAVRATRI.
TO MAKE A DONATION TOWARDS ANY OF THESE PRIZES, PLEASE
CONTACT
PRADEEPBHAI VAGHELA ON 07931 594 857
OR ARVINDBHAI JADAV ON 07949 460 398
OR EMAIL [email protected]
16
17
sharad
poonam
2015
24TH
OCT
2015
East Ham Town Hall
Hight Street South
East Ham E6 2RP
7:00pm
THE NIGHT BEGINS
10:30pm
ARTI*
FEMALE DRESS CODE: WHITE & RED
MALE DRESS CODE: WHITE JABHO
LAST YEAR ON SHARAD POONAM WE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF WATCHING THE GARBA GROUP FROM
LEICESTER WHO CAME FIRST IN A COMPETITION.
AS A RESULT OF THE POSITIVE FEELING THIS EVENT
PRODUCED, THIS WE ARE PLANNING TO ORGANIZE A
GARBO PERFORMED BY VANZA MANDAL MEMBERS.
IF INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT:
SUDHABEN ON 020 8471 6091 OR
CHANDRIKA ON 07809 744 700
OR EMAIL [email protected]
* THE TIME OF THE ARTI IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
18
diwali
2015
19
THE VANZA MANDAL
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
AND TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE
TO INVITE YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY TO THIS YEAR’S DIWALI
FUNCTION. THIS YEAR WE ARE
PLANNING TO HAVE A VARIETY
PROGRAMME.
TBC
TBC
11 - 12pm
RANGOLI
COMPETITION
12 - 1pm
MEET & GREET
1 - 3pm
DINNER
3 - 5pm
WELCOME, VARIETY
PROGRAMME & RAFFLE
DRAW
THIS YEAR’S DIWALI CELEBRATIONS IS GOING TO BE
A VARIETY PROGRAMME. WE WOULD THEREFORE
LIKE YOU TO COME FORWARD AND TAKE PART AND
PERFORM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PERFORM AN ITEM THEN
PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO
[email protected]
OR REGISTER YOUR NAME AT THE TREASURES
TABLE DURING NAVRATRI THE CLOSING DATE IS 24th
OCTOBER 2015
20
CHAPPAN
BHOG FOR
ANKOT AT
DIWALI
WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE MEMBERS TO COME
FORWARD AND MAKE PRASHDI FOR ANKOT. A LIST
OF DELICIOUS FOOD ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE
AND WE WILL BE TAKING DOWN NAMES OF ANY
MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CERTAIN
ITEM ON THE LIST DURING NAVRATRI. PLEASE LET
US KNOW EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT BUT
OUR AIM IS TO COMPLETE THE FULL LIST OF 56
ITEMS.
diwali
2015
21
YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR NAME NOW AND A FULL
LIST OF FOOD ITEMS WILL BE CIRCULATED DURING
NAVRATRI. PLEASE CONTACT
NILABEN ON 07450 479 979 OR SHOBNABEN ON
07412 492 144
children’s
christmans
& diwali
party
23
13TH
DEC
2015
Harold Road Centre
170 Harold Road
London E13 0SE
2 - 9pm
Christmas & Diwali Party
THIS YEARS CHILDREN’S PARTY WILL BE HELD ON
SUNDAY 15TH DECEMBER. THE PARTY WILL START AT
2PM AND WILL FINISH AT AROUND 8PM. AS ALWAYS
THE PARTY IS OPEN TO CHILDREN AGED 10 AND
UNDER
THIS YEAR WE ARE AIMING TO HAVE A PARTY TO
CELEBRATE BOTH CHRISTMAS AND DIWALI AND YOU
ARE ALL INVITED
TO BOOK YOUR CHILD’S PLACE AT THIS YEAR’S
PARTY, PLEASE CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF THE
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. THE DEADLINE FOR
ACCEPTING BOOKINGS FOR THIS EVENT IS 30TH
NOVEMBER. THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
WELCOMES ANY DONATIONS TOWARDS THE
CHILDREN’S PRESENTS AND OTHER COSTS, SUCH AS
HALL HIRE AND ENTERTAINMENT.
24
25
charity of
the year
DURING NAVRATRI LAST YEAR AN AUCTION WAS
HELD WHERE THE HIGHEST BIDDER WON TICKETS TO
SEE A GUJARATI PLAY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE
WINNER WAS ALSO ABLE TO CHOOSE A CHARITY,
WHICH WOULD THEN BECOME A ‘CHARITY OF THE
YEAR’ FOR VANZA MANDAL. THIS WOULD MEAN
THAT VANZA MANDAL WOULD SUPPORT ANY
FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND ALSO PROVIDE HELP
AND SUPPORT TO THOSE DOING THE FUND RAISING.
MY FAMILY PUT IN THE WINNING BID AND OUR
CHOSEN CHARITY WAS THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
CAMPAIGN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY A CONDITION
CALLED FACIOSCAPULOHUMERAL MUSCULAR
DYSTROPHY (FSH).
THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY UK IS THE CHARITY FOR
THE 70,000 PEOPLE LIVING WITH MUSCLE-WASTING
CONDITIONS IN THE UK. THEY BRING TOGETHER
PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MORE THAN 60 RARE AND
VERY RARE PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE WEAKENING
AND WASTING CONDITIONS. MUSCLE-WASTING
CONDITIONS ARE VERY RARE, AFFECTING JUST OVER
ONE IN EVERY 1,000 PEOPLE. AS A RESULT, SOME
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MAY NEVER COME ACROSS
ANYONE WITH A MUSCLE-WASTING CONDITION
AND MAY NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THEM. SINCE
1959, THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY CHARITY HAS
BEEN SUPPORTING FAMILIES LIVING WITH MUSCLEWASTING CONDITIONS. THEY PROVIDE VITAL
INFORMATION, ADVICE, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
FOR PEOPLE WITH THESE CONDITIONS, THEIR
FAMILIES AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK
WITH THEM. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO TREATMENTS
FOR MOST OF THE MUSCLE-WASTING CONDITIONS.
RESEARCH GENERATES THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IS
ESSENTIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSE OF
THESE CONDITIONS. THIS KNOWLEDGE CAN THEN BE
USED IN FINDING EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS.
I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A MUSCLE WASTING
26
CONDITION AND HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
OF HOW SUCH A DISABILITY CAN CHANGE
YOUR LIFESTYLE AND THE LIFESTYLE OF THOSE
AROUND YOU. WE NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF
SUCH CONDITIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND
SUBSEQUENTLY I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHIN OUR VANZA
COMMUNITY WHO SUFFER FROM A SPECIFIC
FORM OF MUSCLE WASTING CONDITION.
charity of the
year
27
THE SPECIFIC CONDITION THAT I SUFFER FORM
IS FSH. THIS HAS AFFECTED MOST OF MY
SUPPORTING AND SKELETAL MUSCLES AND IS
PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. THE TIME
WHEN THE CONDITION WAS DIAGNOSED THE
IMPACT WAS MINOR BUT WITHIN A FEW YEARS
I HAVE LOST TOTAL STRENGTH IN MY UPPER
BODY AND LEGS WITH TWO METAL PLATES IN
MY BACK HOLDING ME UP. I NOW HAVE TO USE
A WHEELCHAIR WHEN I AM OUT AND ABOUT AS
WELL AS CUSTOM-MADE FOOT SPLINTS WHEN I
AM STANDING. IN ADDITION TO THIS MY FACIAL
MUSCLES ARE AFFECTED CAUSING MY BREATHING
MUSCLES TO COLLAPSE DURING THE NIGHT, I
THEREFORE NEED TO WHERE SPECIAL BREATHING
APPARATUS DURING THE NIGHT TO ENSURE THAT
I DO NOT STOP BREATHING AND SPECIAL SPLINTS
TO SUPPORT MY LEGS DURING THE NIGHT.
MANY OF THE CONDITIONS INCLUDING FSH ARE
NOT IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE AND YOU WOULD NOT
BE ABLE TO SEE THAT A PERSON IS AFFECTED.
THEREFORE IT IS VITAL THAT FUNDS ARE RAISED
TO BE USED FOR RESEARCH BUT ALSO TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO COPE WITH SUCH
CONDITIONS. YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT IT IS NOT ONLY THE PERSON WHO IS
AFFECTED BY A CONDITION BUT ALSO ALL THOSE
AROUND THEM AS LIFESTYLES
HAVE TO BE CHANGED AND
EXISTING PRACTICES CHANGED.
THE WAY YOU MANAGE
YOURSELF AND THE DAYS ARE
IMPACTED AND AT SOME STAGE
YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP THINGS
YOU ENJOY AND LEARN TO COPE
WITH THESE CONDITIONS AND
A CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE. BUT
A MESSAGE TO ANYONE WHO
IS READING THIS ARTICLE AND
MAY BE EFFECTED BY A SIMILAR
CONDITION IS NEVER GIVE UP,
LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULL AND
MAKE EACH DAY COUNT THAT
IS WHEN YOU APPRECIATE HOW
PRECIOUS LIFE IS.
SINCE NAMING THE MUSCULAR
DYSTROPHY AS THE CHARITY
FOR THE YEAR I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK VANZA MANDAL FOR
GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO
RAISE AWARENESS OF SUCH
CONDITIONS AND ALSO TO
THANK VANZA MANDAL FOR
ALLOWING MY NIECES AND
NEPHEWS TO RAISE FUNDS
DURING DIWALI 2014.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ANU
SOLANKI, SONAL PARMAR
AND BHAKTI VAGHELA WHO
TOOK PART IN THE SANTA
RUN LAST YEAR AND RAISED
APPROXIMATELY £2000. RAVI
SOLANKI WHO RAISED £350 FOR
NOT SHAVING HIS BEARD FOR
OVER SIX MONTHS (I THINK HIS
MUM AND DAD ARE NOW HAPPY
THAT HE HAS HAD A SHAVE),
AND FINALLY TO VIRAN SOLANKI
FOR RAISING £150 DURING
MOVEMBER.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL
THOSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE
MADE DONATIONS TO THIS
CHARITY THROUGH VANZA
MANDAL. IF YOU WOULD STILL
LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION THEN
PLEASE SEND IN A CHEQUE,
PAYABLE TO VANZA MANDAL TO
THE REGISTERED ADDRESS, YOU
CAN MAKE A DONATION AT ANY
OF THE VANZA MANDAL EVENTS
OR YOU CAN CONTACT ME.
IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY ARE
EFFECTED BY A MUSCLE WASTING
CONDITION AND WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW MORE OR IF YOU
HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING
ANY OF THE ABOVE PLEASE DO
TO HESITATE TO CONTACT ME
ON 07958660012 OR BY EMAIL
[email protected]
RASHMI LALJI MAKWANA
28
29
vanza
mandal
support
VANZA MANDAL SUPPORT (VMS) IS A SUB GROUP
OF VANZA MANDAL WHICH WAS THE BRAINCHILD
OF VANZA MANDAL’S VERY OWN NARESH PITHIA. HE
HAD THE DREAM TO HELP PEOPLE AND WITH THE
ASSISTANCE OF SOME WILLING VOLUNTEERS HE HAS
SET ABOUT TO DO JUST THAT.
VMS IS THERE TO HELP PEOPLE WITHIN THE VANZA
MANDAL COMMUNITY. THE AID THEY PROVIDE
RANGES FROM PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN THE
HOUSE LIKE PUTTING UP A SHELF OR HELP WITH THE
CLEANING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO DO SO
THEMSELVES. THEY WILL ALSO DO SHOPPING TRIPS
FOR PEOPLE UNABLE TO CARRY SHOPPING BAGS
AND EVEN TAKE THE ELDERLY TO THE PARK IF THEY
SIMPLY WANT TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HAVE
SOME COMPANY.
SINCE LAST YEAR VMS HAS BEEN ABLE TO ROUND
UP VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IN THE CAUSE. WITH A
TEAM OF AROUND 10 VOLUNTEERS, THE GROUP
HAS ALREADY MANAGED TO ASSESS A NUMBER OF
PATRONS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.
THE ASSESSMENT IS THE INITIAL PART OF THE
PROCESS, WHICH ASKS THE PATRONS OF THEIR
NEEDS, AND WHAT SORT OF ASSISTANCE THEY
WOULD LIKE. ONCE THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED
THE VOLUNTEERS CAN THEN BEGIN HELPING THE
INDIVIDUALS AS MANY TIMES AS REQUIRED.
30
vanza mandal
support
31
VMS ALSO WANTS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY BY
THROWING EVENTS WHICH EVERYONE RANGING
FROM THE ELDERLY, LESS ABLE AND FAMILIES
CAN ATTEND. THEY HAVE ALREADY SHOWN HOW
WELL THEY DO THIS WITH THE SUCCESSFUL FIRST
EVENT THEY ORGANISED. ON SUNDAY 7 JUNE
2015 VMS ORGANISED A PICNIC IN THE OLYMPIC
PARK FOR EVERYONE TO ATTEND. CHAIRS AND
WHEELCHAIRS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE ELDERLY.
A LOVELY SPREAD OF FOOD WAS PROVIDED
RANGING FROM PANI PURI, BHAJIYA, BIRIYANI
AND MUCH MORE. UNBEKNOWN TO VMS, THE
COUNCIL WAS THROWING A COMPETITION IN THE
PARK ON THE VERY SAME DAY TO AWARD A PRIZE
TO THE GROUP WITH THE LARGEST ATTENDANCE
TO THE PARK. VMS HAS OVER 100 PEOPLE
ATTEND THE PICNIC AND DUE TO THIS WON THE
COMPETITION. THE PRIZE WAS FOR 50 PEOPLE
OF THE GROUP TO GO UP THE ORBITAL MITTAL
TOWER THAT VERY SAME AFTERNOON. IT WAS A
GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS
ABLE TO GO UP THE TOWER.
VMS HOPE TO THROW MANY MORE EVENT LIKE
THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY, HOWEVER IN ORDER
TO DO THIS THEY WILL REQUIRE SUPPORT, SO
PLEASE DO DONATE IF YOU LIKE THE WORK THEY
ARE DOING. FOR EXAMPLE YOUR DONATIONS
WILL HELP THEM BUY MUCH NEEDED EQUIPMENT
AND HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION WITH THE AIM
OF HAVING A 16 SEATER VAN TO HELP THOSE IN
NEED. MORE IMPORTANTLY VMS IS THERE TO
ASSIST YOU, SO PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO
CONTACT THEM WITH ANY REQUESTS YOU HAVE.
32
33
last 12
months
34
35
36
month of
purshottam
37
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, WHENEVER THE MONTH
OF PURSHOTTAM CAME ALONG, MY GRANDMA,
RATANBEN PURSHOTTAMBHAI MAKWANA, CAME
FROM JINJA TO MBALE TO CELEBRATE THIS MONTH.
I WAS A YOUNG CHILD, AND AT THAT TIME WHEN
BAA CAME, IT WAS A SPECIAL TREAT, AND THIS TIME
IT WAS MADE EVEN MORE SPECIAL AS IT WAS THE
MONTH OF PURSHOTTAM.
THE DAY WOULD START WITH GOING TO PURIBEN
ANANDJIBHAI MAKWANA (PURI MOTA BAA), WHERE
ALL THE OTHER ELDER LADIES MET UP. BEHIND THE
HOUSE, THERE WAS AN OPEN SPACE WHERE THE
LADIES WOULD PRAY SURAJBHAGVAN AND CREATE
A SMALL FARM, AND PRAY TO THE GODS FOR
GIVING A GOOD HARVEST THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THEN ALL THE CHILDREN AND GRANDMOTHERS
WOULD GATHER AND WALK TO THE MANDIR AND
DO DARSHAN. ONCE THE DARSHAN WAS FINISHED,
THE GORANIMA WOULD COME OUT, SIT IN A NICE
AND COOL SPOT AT THE FRONT OF THE MANDIR,
AND GIVE US CHOKHA IN OUR HANDS AND TELL US
KATHA OF THE MONTH OF PURSHOTTAM.
NOW THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE MONTH OF
PURSwHOTTAM?
OUR HINDU CALENDAR IS BASED UPON THE LUNAR
CALENDAR, WHICH GIVES US AN EXTRA 30 DAYS
EVERY 2 YEARS. THIS EXTRA MONTH IS KNOWN AS
THE MONTH OF PURSHOTTAM. THIS MONTH IS VERY
AUSPICIOUS, DURING WHICH MANY PEOPLE FAST
AND DONATE MONEY TO CHARITY. DAUGHTERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES ARE INVITED OVER FOR DINNER, AND
GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO THE DAUGHTERS. IT IS SAID
THAT THE MORE YOU GIVE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS
AND THE LESS WELL OFF, IT IS PROMISED THAT YOU
WILL BE BLESSED BY THE GODS.
38
month of
purshottam
39
THERE ARE SEVERAL KATHAS OF
PURSHOTTAMBHAGVAN. ONE OF THEM WHICH IS
PRECIOUS TO ME, IS ONE OF AN ELDERLY COUPLE
WHO WERE CHILDLESS BUT YEARNED FOR A SON,
AND WISHED FOR A DAUGHTER IN LAW. DAY BY
DAY, AS THEY WERE GETTING OLDER, THEY WERE
GETTING MORE AND MORE WORRIED. ONE DAY
THEY DECIDED TO GO TO ANOTHER TOWN AND
FIND A WIFE FOR THEIR SON WHO NEVER WAS.
THEY FOUND A VERY BEAUTIFUL GIRL AND ASKED
HER PARENTS FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE,
UNDER THE CONDITION THAT THE DAUGHTER
WOULD BE MARRIED TO THEIR PRETEND SON, AND
DURING THE WEDDING CEREMONY, AFTER THE
3RD FERA, THAT HER 4TH FERA WILL TAKE PLACE
WHEN THE SON RETURNS. THE ELDERLY COUPLE
HAD SO MUCH FAITH IN PURSHOTTAMBHAGVAN
THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE CHILDLESS,
PURSHOTTAMBHAGVAN WILL FORGIVE THEM AND
SHOW THEM THE RIGHT PATH IN THE FUTURE.
THEY BOUGHT THE GIRL HOME AND THE GIRL
WAS TREATED AS A PRINCESS. THEY LIVED IN A
BIG HOUSE OF 12 ROOMS, AND THE DAUGHTER IN
LAW WAS TOLD SHE CAN GO INTO ANY ROOM BUT
THE 12TH,. THE GIRL LIVED THERE HAPPILY ON THE
BASIS THAT HER HUSBAND WILL RETURN HOME
AFTER 12 YEARS. 11 YEARS WENT BY HAPPILY. THE
MONTH OF PURSHOTTAM OCCURRED ON THE
12TH YEAR. THE COUPLE BECAME VERY WORRIED
AS THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GOING
TO SAY TO THEIR DAUGHTER IN LAW, WHO WOULD
BE ASKING FOR HER HUSBAND’S RETURN. THEY
DECIDED TO GO ON A JATRA AND ASK THE GODS
FOR AN ANSWER TO THEIR PREDICAMENT. ON THE
DAY THEY LEFT, THEY ADVISED THE DAUGHTER
IN LAW AGAIN AND AGAIN, NOT TO OPEN THE
12TH ROOM OF THE HOUSE. ONCE THEY HAD
LEFT, THE NEIGHBOURS STARTED GOSSIPING AND
MEDDLING. THEY TOLD THE DAUGHTER IN LAW
THAT THE COUPLE HAVE LIED TO HER AND THERE
IS NO SON, AND NOW THEY’VE
RUN AWAY. THE DAUGHTER IN LAW
GOT VERY UPSET AND SAID I’M
GOING TO OPEN THE 12TH DOOR.
SHE OPENED THE 12TH ROOM,
AND SAW A VERY HANDSOME
MAN IN MEDITATION. SHE CLOSED
THE DOOR BEHIND HER, AND
WAS SATISFIED THAT THAT HER
HUSBAND. AFTER A MONTH, THE
COUPLE RETURNED HOME, HAVING
NOT FOUND A SOLUTION TO THEIR
PROBLEM, AND DECIDED TO TELL
THE TRUTH TO THEIR DAUGHTER
IN LAW. AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO
TELL HER, THE DAUGHTER IN LAW
STARTED CRYING, SAYING I’M VERY
SORRY I DIDN’T LISTEN TO YOU,
I OPENED THE 12TH ROOM, AND
DISTURBED YOUR SON DURING HIS
MEDITATION. SO I’M WILLING TO
TAKE ANY PUNISHMENT YOU WISH
TO GIVE ME. THE COUPLE WERE
SHOCKED TO HEAR THIS, AS THEY
KNEW THE 12TH ROOM WAS EMPTY.
THEY WOULDN’T BELIEVE HER, SO
THEY WENT AND OPENED THE 12TH
ROOM, AND THERE IN FULL GRACE
THEY SAW A VERY HANDSOME MAN
WHO CAME RUNNING TO THEM, AND
SAID I HAVE FINSHED MY 12 YEARS
OF MEDITATION, PLEASE GIVE ME
YOUR BLESSING AS YOUR SON. THE
COUPLE BECAME VERY EMOTIONAL,
AND THROUGH THEIR TEARS, THEY
SAW PURSHOTTAMBHAGVAN GIVING
THEM HIS BLESSINGS. ON THAT DAY
THEY PERFORMED THE 4TH FERA OF
THE WEDDING CEREMONY. IT IS SAID
THAT WHOEVER FASTS AND READS
THIS KATHA WILL BE BLESSED BY
PURSHOTTAMBHAGVAN.
PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT VERSIONS
OF THIS STORY AS THIS HAS BEEN
PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION
TO GENERATION IN ALL HINDU
COMMUNITIES. THE LAST MEMORY
I HAVE OF THE MONTH OF
PURSHOTTAM IS TAKING 108 DIVAS
IN ONE TRAY, LIGHTING THEM AND
FLOATING THEM INTO THE RIVER,
WHICH WOULD TRADITIONALLY
MARK THE END OF THE MONTH.
I HOPE THIS ARTICLE WILL THROW
SOME LIGHT ONTO THIS VERY
AUSPICIOUS MONTH FOR THE
YOUNGER GENERATION.
NILA KISHOR SOLANKI
40
41
veer
saddling up
for his next
fundraising
ride
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GURU
GOPALAL & HINGLAJ MATAJI FOR
GIVING ME THE COURAGE TO
COMPLETE THE INTENSE ROUTE
OF A 52 MILE BIKATHON FOR 5
YEAR’S RUNNING SINCE 2011. IN
2013 I HAD PLANNED TO RIDE A
75 MILE ROUTE, HOWEVER THE
CHARITY RAISED IT STAKES TO
100MILES. WITHOUT SUFFICIENT
TRAINING THIS WOULD HAVE
BEEN IMPOSSIBLE. HOWEVER
I CONTINUED TO MANAGE
ACHIEVING THE 52 MILE RIDE. IN
2014 I COMPLETED 26 MILES DUE
TO NOT BEING WELL HOWEVER
THIS YEAR MY GOAL IS AGAIN 52
MILES. THE ROUTE ORIGINALLY
STARTED IN CANNING TOWN
THROUGH CENTRAL LONDON THEN
BACK ROUND AGAIN; HOWEVER
THE ROUTE HAS CHANGED SINCE.
THIS YEAR ROUTE STARTS FROM
BRUNSWICK SQUARE GARDENS,
LONDON. CONFIRMATION OF
THIS YEAR’S ROUTE HAS NOT
BEEN COMMUNICATED BUT FROM
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, ROUTE
NORMALLY GOES THROUGH
LONDON’S MAIN ATTRACTIONS
TOWARDS RICHMOND PARK,
KINGSTON THEN BACK AGAIN. I
CAN TAKE APPROX. 6 HOURS TO
COMPLETE THIS.
WE LEAVE IN GROUPS, STARTING
THE ROUTE AT 8AM AS OVER
10,000 CYCLISTS TAKE PART BUT
THE DISTANCES THEY CHOOSE TO
RIDE AND THEIR STARTING POINTS
MAY VARY ACROSS LONDON.
MY LATE NANIMA, KANTABEN
NARSHIDAS MAKWANA PASSED
AWAY DUE TO KIDNEY FAILURE.
THIS OPENED MY EYES TO
THE IDEA OF FUND RAISING,
AWARENESS AND INCREASING
PEOPLE’S KNOWLEDGE.
DUE TO LOCAL RECOGNITION
FROM PREVIOUS CYCLING
ACHIEVEMENTS, I HAVE THE
FULL SUPPORT OF MY LOCAL
NEIGHBOURHOOD, FRIENDS AND
FAMILY.
IN 2013, I WAS ALSO IN ‘THE NEWS’
A LOCAL BOROUGH OF BARKING
& DAGENHAM’S NEWSPAPER
HIGHLIGHTING MY CHARITY EVENT
SUCCESSIONS.
I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE
CHARITY BY A FRIEND WHOM
KNEW YEARS AGO, I CYCLED FROM
BARKING TO OXFORD CIRCUS DAILY
AND SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN
DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE THE
52 MILE BIKEATHON EVERY YEAR
SINCE. REGARD OF THE WEATHER
ON THE DAY, IT IS THE ADRENALINE
THAT KEEPS ME GOING ESPECIALLY
AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END
WHERE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE CHEERING US ON.
42