Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Aug 26: Ravi Katapadi and Ramanji from Udupi, like in previous years, have also taken up the task of helping the poor children this year by presenting themselves in unique forms and costumes on the occasion of Srikrishna Janmshatami.

Many people don and depict different Veshas during the Janmashtami every year but the motive of most of them is to use the money they collect by undertaking door-to-door visits for themselves or their families. But Ravi Katapadi, an ordinary labourer by profession, has been presenting himself in different forms every year on Janmashtami. He has so far used about Rs 36 lac he collected from the people as donations, for helping about 18 children. The money has gone to the treatment, education, and maintenance of the poor children.

During the last four years, he had presented himself as characters of different English movies. This time he entertained the people by being the vampire.

He would be using the money he has collected this time for extending financial assistance to three children.

Shreetan (3) has been suffering from liver cancer. He is in need of about seven lac rupees for his treatment.

Pratham (5) from Kalligudde, Vakwady in Kundapur taluk, has been suffering from a unique condition in which his body has been unable to produce white blood cells. He needs at least Rs 20,000 per month towards treatment, and his father, a coolie, is unable to spend this much. The third person he wants to help is Kiran (18) from Hiriyadka Panchanabettu. He is suffering from a brain-related disease and needs Rs 15 to 20 lac rupees for treatment.

Ravi and Ravi Friends Katapadi have moved all around the city to collect donations for extending as much help as possible to the above three families.

Ramanji

Ramanji happens to be a theatre artiste who has been rendering society-friendly tasks since long. He has a heart that throbs for the helpless, poor children. Ramanji is from the town. Ramanji makes it a point to leave aside whatever work he does during Janmashtami, and gets involved with collection of money for the poor. During each Janmashtami, he dons different roles and collects money for the treatment of poor children.

This happens to be his seventh year in this experiment. In the previous years, he had presented himself as a Naga Sadhu, person from a tribal family of Mayan culture, Teyyam from Kerala, person from a south African tribe known as Apalipco Marikadu on Janmashtami occasions and used the money collected from the people for the poor children in distress.

This time around, Ramanji wants to help Sonia, a third standard student in Kundapur taluk, who needs a surgery to remove tumour in her brain. The expenses of surgery is about seven lac rupees and Ramanji has requested people to extend whatever possible help for brightening the future of Sonia.

For this purpose, he took over the character of 'snake queen', toured all over the city and collected generous contributions. His friends group has been supporting Ramanji's endeavour.

As we know, everyone does not have money. But more than money, one needs to have a heart that vibes for the sufferings of others and to render pro-society service. Only then they can help poor people in distress. These are two such people who in spite of being poor, have been helping the poor families in times of their crises.

Pradeep

Another social worker Pradeep, who is working at an electronic show room in Brahmavar, also wore a unique costume on the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami to raise funds to help poor patients.

He dressed up as the ‘Devil Hunter', to entertain public in order to collect money from them. Sanchalan Udupi team supported him in his noble cause. Last year, he provided financial assistance to three sick children of Rs 8 lac. Santhosh Pithrody choreographed him as ‘Devil Hunter'. Pradeep lived without having food for two days for the act.

This time around, he decided to help Sony from Thrasi who is suffering from brain ailment, Lavanya from Moodbidri for her skin related issues and cancer patient Shrithan from Mandarthi.

Sanchalana team has involved in pro-social activities by extending help to poor, needy and ill people since many years. Youngsters from Brahmavar, Udupi and Manipura are in the group.