Music, dance and fun jazz up World Elders DayBengaluru: October 1, 2016, DHNS
Last Updated IST
Capt Allan Wash, 104, along with former Indian hockey captain Jude Felix (right) and children, cuts a cake at an event to mark the International World Elders' Day on Friday.
World Elders Day was made special for senior citizens with the eventful day organised by Karen Pinto and her friends at The Chancery Pavilion. Over a hundred elders from Ashley Care Homes, Little Sisters of the Poor and Friend in Need Society attended the games and cultural events.
This year’s celebration was Hawaiian-themed. The women got a touch of colour by makeup artists and wore bright-coloured flowers in their hair. The elders sang, danced and one of them even gave a juggling performance. Volunteers, kids and the dance crew 5678 performed to entertain the elders.
Restaurateur Carlton Braganza sang old jazz numbers for the audience and many elders waltzed to the tunes. Among them was 93-year-old Violet Jackson who loves to dance. “I won a prize once for dancing!” she said with childish excitement.
Making a special request for Frank Sinatra’s ‘Something Stupid,’ Jacqueline Colaco, recollected, “In my teens, I used to frequent discos in Mumbai and this song would often be played there.” The 66-year-old former banker is a huge fan of Sinatra and named her autobiography ‘Just me Jacqueline on my way’ after the singer’s famous hit.
A resident of Ashley Care Homes, 104-year-old Captain Allan Wash was delighted to be at the programme. “We are alone, our loved ones are living away from us. This programme brings back old memories and we enjoy ourselves,” he said. A proud Indian, who served in the British Army till 1948, he added, “Young men should join the armed forces. It makes you a disciplined, top-class gentleman.”
Thankful to the organisers, Sister Rosemary from Little Sisters of the Poor, said, “Some of these people have never been to hotels. So, an event like this makes them very happy. When they sing and dance here, they feel young again.” Karen Pinto has been hosting the event for the past three years, ever since her father passed away in an old age home.
This year’s celebration was Hawaiian-themed. The women got a touch of colour by makeup artists and wore bright-coloured flowers in their hair. The elders sang, danced and one of them even gave a juggling performance. Volunteers, kids and the dance crew 5678 performed to entertain the elders.
Restaurateur Carlton Braganza sang old jazz numbers for the audience and many elders waltzed to the tunes. Among them was 93-year-old Violet Jackson who loves to dance. “I won a prize once for dancing!” she said with childish excitement.
Making a special request for Frank Sinatra’s ‘Something Stupid,’ Jacqueline Colaco, recollected, “In my teens, I used to frequent discos in Mumbai and this song would often be played there.” The 66-year-old former banker is a huge fan of Sinatra and named her autobiography ‘Just me Jacqueline on my way’ after the singer’s famous hit.
A resident of Ashley Care Homes, 104-year-old Captain Allan Wash was delighted to be at the programme. “We are alone, our loved ones are living away from us. This programme brings back old memories and we enjoy ourselves,” he said. A proud Indian, who served in the British Army till 1948, he added, “Young men should join the armed forces. It makes you a disciplined, top-class gentleman.”
Thankful to the organisers, Sister Rosemary from Little Sisters of the Poor, said, “Some of these people have never been to hotels. So, an event like this makes them very happy. When they sing and dance here, they feel young again.” Karen Pinto has been hosting the event for the past three years, ever since her father passed away in an old age home.