Students at an old age home in Kolkata
Ankita Chatterjee, an economics student at CU, said, “I had first visited Ashray Old Age Home at Beliaghata, met the residents and distributed new clothes among them. Inspired by my friends, I have joined them to visit the old age homes and share the festive mirth with the elderly, who are inclusive of the society,” he said. They relive the childhood puja memories, when there wasn’t a frenzy for theme pujas or the glitz and show of social media,” said Ankita Khan, a student of Basanti Devi College.
The students, mainly from the University of Calcutta, Basanti Devi College and Goenka College of Commerce, among others are spending time with the occupants of various old age homes across the city during Durga Puja . I realised that these senior citizens need companionship to drive away their loneliness. So, we decided to visit and share some time with them during the festival. This is a new experience, I have had during this puja. Robin Das, a student of Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration, is striking a balance between pandal hopping with friends and spending time with the elderly, who are often confined to the old age homes. “As a college student, most of our time goes into studying and charting career plans. “When we spend time with senior citizens, we realise that sometimes what they need most is not something expensive but simply someone who will sit with them, listen to them and make them feel remembered.