Kids Bring Their Grandparents to Play Some Games

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At the IACF Desi Grandparents Day program last Saturday, July 16, from left, ISCA President Praful Gandhi; IACF Directors Joseph Ellankil and Shweta Arora; India House Executive Director Vipin Kumar; IACF Directors Shobana Muratee and Ramesh Charivirala; and ISCA Secretary Bharat Shah.

By Jawahar Malhotra

HOUSTON: Every month, the Indian Senior Citizen’s Association comes together in India House where over 200 members participate in events planned just for the occasion and learn about the goings on of each other. They are first generation immigrants who have lived in the environs of the Bayou City for decades and grown older together, clinging to the ways of the Old Country. And several times a year, especially for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, other groups from the community come to entertain them in song, dance or some other manner.

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A young girl held up a card she made.

Three years ago, the Indo American Charity Organization came up with the idea to bring both the seniors and their grandkids together, and the first Desi Grandparents Day was held at India House, with races, paintings and other games, as well as a free Health Fair to check their vital signs. It is all in keeping with the central mission of the IACF to provide care for Seniors and educating kids in the customs of their heritage.

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Ms. Sunshine the Clown painted faces and made toy balloons.

This year was no different, except pulling together the event got off to a slow start, almost not happening, but last minute efforts by both groups two weeks earlier brought the whole show together, though this left no time to hold the Health Fair, much to the disappointment of many seniors. IACF sponsored the event as well as the lunch that was catered by BAPS Swami Narayan Temple, and India House donated the facility on Saturday morning, July 16.

Of the 40 kids who showed up with their grandparents, most played in several rounds of musical chairs, with first place to Kapila Chitalia and her grandkid Soumit Chatalia; second to Vidyut Shah and grandkid Jaya Iyyar and third place to Munira Shakia and grand kid Sakina Shakia.

In a second room off to one side, kids played at games and painting while Ms. Sunshine the Clown painted faces and made balloon toys. The last set was a couple of rounds of Bingo played with much fun and excitement by the seniors. The event closed with an hour of musical entertainment  by the Global Desi Group of Sankalp and Company singing Bollywood Oldies.