by Vinay K. Thakur
It turned out to be a busy month of October for members, their families and friends who attended a number of programmes, organized at the Gulmohar Sports cum Community Center at Gulmohar Park.
As the festive season kicked in and the Covid-19 showed ample signs of weakening and restrictions on public interactions were gone, the Centre held a musical evening and dinner on October 6 to celebrate its 49th Founders’ Day. Melodies from the Golden Era of Bollywood were rendered by artists drawn from the colony itself as well as from Gulmohar Centre’s affiliate Press Club of India. Members turned up in good numbers and enjoyed the soulful melodies rendered with soft live music by Malabika Thakur, Apoorva Thakur, Anubhuti Rana, Vineeta Verma, Namita Jain, Nirupama Verma, Ashok Arora, and Neeraj Thakur. The President Manpreet Singh Chowdhary presented mementoes to the founder members who were present and to those founders who were unable to come, the Mementoes were sent to their homes. Everyone enjoyed the delicacies rolled out by the Centre’s kitchen.
In association with Gulmohar Senior Citizen’s Forum, a health camp to give shots of influenza vaccine, mainly to senior citizens, was held on October 8. Despite heavy showers that day, a record number of 134 persons availed of the facility. Office bearers of both the Senior Citizens’ Forum as well as the Centre were present at the vaccination camp.
On October 12, dancers from Jharkhand enthralled the members with their performance of Chhau dance. Colourfully attired dancers matched their steps with the beats of music to enliven the evening. This event was organised by the centre in association with the Senior citizen’s forum.
As Karwa Chauth was around the corner, the Centre, in keeping with its tradition, organised a Mehendi Wali for the ladies on the occasion. Arrangements were also made on the lawn for the Karwa Chauth puja in the evening on October 13.
On October 15, the Centre launched the newly developed drive-way cafe with modern furniture. Members were treated with cocktail samosas, sandwiches, tea and coffee on the soft opening of the Cafe which has been tastefully embellished with greenery, small plants and pleasing ambience and lighting. While the cafe was inaugurated in the morning, the evening witnessed Diwali Mela with stalls of candles, diyas, decorative items, apparel, sarees and suits, furnishings and eatables catering to the members and families . Diwali mela had a successful run both on 15th and 16th October.
Members appreciated the efforts of the Centre’s Managing Committee not only for organizing the events in physical form after a two-year gap of Covid-induced restrictions but also in coming up with an innovative concept of driveway Cafe which is sure to become a runway hit with youngsters and seniors alike.
