Dussehra in October, Diwali and Eid in November, Christmas in December—there is no dearth of occasions for celebration during the festive season in India.
This year, MPS was inspired by a quote by Lydia Maria Child: "An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves." It was decided to mark the festivities with a weeklong carnival of giving to raise money for several charitable organizations, including:
Anatha Sishu Bhavan, an orphanage which houses around 60 students between 3 and 17 years of age.
Asha Jeevan, an old-age home which houses people who need constant support and also people who suffer from borderline mental disabilities.
Karunashraya, an organization that caters to the needs of 38 terminally ill cancer patients. The institution, within its boundaries, is calm and serene and provides all the peace and quiet that the patients require.
Sri Rakum School for the Blind, a school for children born blind or visually impaired. MPS has a long-standing commitment to the Sri Rakum School, which cares for over 500 children from underprivileged backgrounds. Acharya Sri Rakum and a handful of volunteers provide the children, who are aged from 2 ½ to 26, with education, food, shelter, and the love and understanding they need to realize their potential.
The 'Joy of Giving' fair, which included a food bazaar of much-loved Indian snacks such as Pani Puri and Gulab Jamun as well as classes on everything from yoga to French, raised Rs 67,000—roughly $1,500. Hundreds of employees participated, offering their services as cooks, craftspeople, and teachers over the course of the week.
Employees were also asked to donate toys, clothes, and books for the children. The team used the money raised to buy supplies for each charity, including mats, cutlery, water filters, food staples, and of course plum cake.
Reyckha Rai, who organized the festival, explained that "Christmas is the month of 'giving,' and, staying true to the spirit of Christmas, we headed out on Christmas Eve to hand out the generous contributions made by the employees of MPS to those who needed it the most."
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