What is Joy of Giving Week?
The Joy of Giving Week is a festival of giving that aims to bring together Indians from all across the country and abroad through different acts of giving - money, time, skills or resources. The goal is to convert it into a full scale festival. This Week was launched in 2009 and is held every year starting on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, containing October 2 within.
It has been rightly observed that the joy of giving is manifold more than the joy of receiving. The happiness and satisfaction one receives after giving is irreplaceable as it evokes genuine human feelings. But, in the current scenario, we hardly have time to spare those who need us a look. To inculcate the habit of giving, the ‘Joy of Giving’ week is being held at various levels throughout the country till October 2. ‘The Navhind Times’ takes an initiative by asking some personalities about the ideal things one needs to give to society.
NT NETWORK
“I want to communicate through my tiatr messages of communal harmony, peace and the recipe of how to be happy. My tiatr ‘Kednem Utt’ttolo’ has already hit the theatres and will continue till December.”
---Prince Jacob, theatre artiste
“The joy of giving week should be celebrated through out the year. It should not be limited to a week. I would like to spread peace, learn to understand people better instead of getting angry in situations. I especially want to take precautions in not hurting the sentiments of people. I also want to communicate more through my work and make it more creative.”
---Assavri Kulkarni, photographer
“Honesty is the best policy! We should be honest with everyone. I believe honesty is the only prime thing to be given to the society for general good. We should be sincere with whatever we do in order to see good changes.”
---Dr Jawaharlal Henriques
“An act of giving is the most pleasurable act one can experience. A million times superior to taking. Simple things mean a lot. I would like to give to the people a smile that would make them feel happy and cheerful and expect them to share the pleasure of giving a smile to others.”
---Mr Damodar Mauzo, noted Konkani writer
The best thing that I have given is my award money to the poor. I feel happy to see a smile on their face. The best thing that I got was a Barbie doll set.
---Ivana Furtado, chess prodigy
Giving comes through my profession of making films. You give when you observe life. I feel strongly about certain issues and I share my thoughts with people. By sharing you also give joy. The Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiraostami gave so much to mankind through his film despite living in a place like Iran. I want to share things close to my heart and I hope it will be useful to people.
---Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, Filmmaker
“I believe that Joy of Giving practice should be throughout one’s life and not just for a week. It should be everyone’s principle. We need it now more than before as our world has become very commercial and we have become self centered. One can give to others by selflessly providing a space for a person to grow positively. One can gift society the knowledge one possesses, through their profession.”
---Gerard da Cunha, Architect
“My personal gift of giving is through education. I can educate young students through my experiences and expertise.”
---Margaret Mascarenhas, Writer
(As told to Arti Das, Clara A Rodrigues, Pratima Achrekar and Purvi Radia)
