Kolkata: Kids come forward to take the lead on Children’s Day – Times of India

KOLKATA: With ban on use of fireworks, Children’s Day celebrations set the mood at housing complexes on Saturday. A range of events and activities had been planned to keep them busy and involved with each other, though by maintaining social distancing. In most cases, the events were live streamed for all residents.
Kids were kept busy since Friday — they made decorations for pandal at home at South City Residency. While some painted hand fans and made paper pulp models, other wove baskets. These were then collected by the organising committee and put up all over the pandals.

“Kids worked in tandem with each other over phones and virtual modes and produced decorations that were in sync with each other,” said Prasanta Banerjee, spokesperson of the organising committee.
Eleven-year-old Snithik De, a student of South City International, was among some of the kids at Upohar Housing Society who participated in a story writing competition. Kids were encouraged to write and upload their stories on the link provided. Many recited poems and sang. “I am so happy that so many elders liked my rangoli. I spent hours doing it…” said Tithi Das, another 11-year-old child of the complex, who studies in Indus Valley School.
Kids at Lakeview Housing Co-opertive in Howrah were given chocolates and surprise gifts as part of the Children’s Day celebrations, not too far from the spot that is cleared every year for kids to burst fireworks. “Though we made kids understand the harmful effects of fireworks and the Covid situation, we could understand that they were a little sad. So, we decided to lift their spirits by distributing some surprise gifts and chocolates,” said Asim Dutta, secretary of the society.
At Silver Spring, a twoday long rangoli competition was in progress till late evening that would be judged over the weekend. “We are seeking more participation from children and teenagers so that they can celebrate Diwali without crackers and ring in an all new flavour this time,” said Indranil Chowdhury, the secretary of the residents’ association.
At Lake District Complex in Ultadanga, the resident welfare association had roped in teenagers and children in multiple awareness campaigns to educate the residents about the ban on firecrackers this year.
“The children are much more socially aware than many adults. Hence, we roped them in to educate the complex residents and it has done wonders. To keep the residents engaged we are also having a number of competitions like rangoli and quiz competitions,” said Santanu Ghosh, one of the senior residents of the complex.