Media Release

Mangaluru, Oct 16: Volunteer Services Organization (VSO), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangaluru-Wing held its annual event 'Daan Utsav' recently.

Daan Utsav, India’s most magnificent festival is celebrate every year from October 2 to 8 in order to commemorate the joy of giving. ‘Daan’ pertains to the act of sharing, caring and thereby spreading joy. It provides an opportunity to each and every person without any disparity to explore the most intriguing ways to lighten the burden of those suffering.

VSO, Mangaluru, since 2015, celebrates Daan Utsav every year with a diversity of projects focusing on every aspect of life.

On October 2, this weeklong festival was inaugurated with a street-play to create awareness about self-defense at the Magaluru Central Railway Station.

Followed by this, Project-Annamitra was conducted wherein food and clothes were distributed for residents of Kavoor slum.

Another project, Rangreeti was held at an NGO for orphan kids between the age of 8 to 16, which involved kids painting diyas and making cards along with the volunteers. As a gesture of love, stationary was distributed to these tiny tots which was sponsored by ScaleneWorks.

On October 3, Project- Aanshi was conducted which targeted the training of Basic Life Support by Dr Jeedhu Radhakrishnan from department of Emergency Medicine to the dental students.

Project Aarohi was conducted at an NGO for adolescent girls which involved highlighting the importance of menstrual and oral hygiene. Along with this, toothbrush and sanitary napkins were also distributed.

On October 4, Project- Suraksha was held in Kasturba Medical College in association with Mangaluru city police wherein, the assistant commissioner of Police, Traffic and Circle Inspector addressed the students about traffic rules and safety on road.

On Project 4 - Rangankan, bottle-painting workshop was conducted wherein; volunteers decorated used bottles with aim of raising funds to fulfill the wishes of orphan kids.

Furthermore, on October 4, Anubhava was conducted, which was a skill exchange workshop which saw a huge turnover as people taught and learned various skills ranging from playing guitar, quilling to learning makeup and calligraphy.

On October 5, Gyaan Daan Saptah was organized by department of Forensic Medicine wherein, the gates of Forensic museum were opened to students of SDM Law College.

On October 6, various events were held in the City Centre including Twist on words, dance poetry on various social issues to create awareness on social issues among the general public in an innovative manner. Others included flash mob, Candle sale, Game On and Wishing Wall. These projects aimed at fund raising and full filling wishes of orphan kids.

On October 7, Chai Pe Charcha was conducted where we distributed tea and snacks for night duty guards in Mangalore.

On October 8, we conducted Yog Daan, which was a free yoga session.

Throughout the week, Blood donation drive in association with Kasturba Medical College Hospitals, Cloth Donation Drive, Rice bucket Challenge and Wishing Well were conducted.

ScaleneWork People Solutions, Bengaluru, was thanked for their sponsorship and support. Scalene in the past has done multiple drives and campaigns to give back to the society and was very happy to join to celebrate Daan Utsav this year.