international day for rural women...

i believe that it is only when u let yourself free from the forever busy life and have a peep into the glimpses of common man's life that u realize the true beauty of life...

the international day for rural women, conducted at Mannakudy, a tribal settlement on the fringe area of Periyar Tiger Reserve, supported by Club Mahindra and Periyar Foundation was an awesome event to have been a part of.. the main theme of the programme was to educate and empower the rural women in terms of their health, nutrition and family. at the same time they had an opportunity to enjoy their time away from the cattle sheds and farms.

the women seemed to better enjoy those moments of fun and games rather than the classes, and we saw a very active and enthusiastic participation from their part.

apart from all these, the biggest highlight of the event was the honoring of the "Grandmother" of the settlement, a woman who is supposed to be aged somewhere near 125 years(at the time of construction of the famous Mullaperiyar dam, she worked there and she was pregnant at that time). 

and for us she is a living symbol of our ancient civilization, of our ancestors who lived in the woods. and it is a matter of big wonder that, she still goes to the market all by herself to buy vegetables and all what she needs..!! she also stays all by herself..

she was honored by the member of Panchayat member, and she seemed to really like the shawl they  gave her... 
the celebration was really remarkable and at the same time it made all the women, who participated, a sense of gladness in all its senses.(all of them were given a steel glass for participation.. )
i felt really proud to have been a part of the event, and am really glad that i could share some moments of fun with women of the woods and their great grandmother...:)