Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Mangalore, Feb 11: A two-day art and craft exhibition entitled 'Vision 2008' was organized here on Saturday February 9 and Sunday February 10 by a bunch of special children to showcase hundreds of items prepared by them. The children belonged to the Saanidhya residential school and training centre for the mentally challenged.
A small tent near the stage at Kadri park had some unique items on display and for sale such as hand-made candles, fabric paintings, mobile pouches, woollen materials, crafted stones, clay items, embroidery, telephone covers, and greeting cards. The price of the products ranged anywhere from Rs 5 for a keychain to paintings costing around Rs 500 and more.
This exhibition is the third of its kind and the first one to be held at Kadri park. It is the first time that the exhibition is being held at a public place. The event which covered two full days, had a large number of people thronging to the venue, especially to view what the specially-abled inmates had prepared and to give them their support and encouragement.
Many in fact left the place suitably impressed by the artifacts on display. Many of them even purchased some of the items. The items which received the maximum buyers were the paintings, mobile pouches, candles and greeting cards. Around 15 children of the institute participated in the exhibition-cum-sale.
According to Shree Ganesh Seva Trust Vasanth Shetty, in view of the good response they have received here, the organizers are keen to have a similar programme at Pilikula or the beach-side, which will attract people in hordes, he added.
The 'Vision 2008' exhibition had earlier been inaugurated by the deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao. On the occasion he also launched the school's website which was developed by the students of NIT-K, Suratkal.
Speaking at the inaugural function he observed that parents are keen to see that their children become self-reliant. Hence he declared, "Efforts of organizations such as Saanidhya who help such children become self-reliant should become a model for others to emulate."