The two-hour event brought community members and children together through mixed-team activities, festive games, Secret Santa gifting, music, and dinner. Each team included adults and children to encourage connection, confidence, and shared joy.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Nidhi said, “Christmas is about belonging. This celebration allowed our community to share joy in the most meaningful way – with presence, kindness, and love.”

Dimple Somji, founder of With Love NGO, shared, “Our aim was simple: to make every child feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Watching the girls light up reminded us why collective kindness matters.”

The evening highlighted community spirit and the power of simple gestures to create lasting memories.

The post Mind Body Soul Community and With Love NGO Celebrate Christmas with Ghar Aashram Girls in Pune appeared first on NRI News.

PUNE: The grand annual event of ‘Mass Marriage’ at Punyadham Ashram was held on November 30^th, 2025. It was indeed a heartwarming experience for all who had the opportunity to witness these 18 couples, including 9 visually impaired couples, hailing from different parts of Maharashtra, tie the knot at a special ceremony organized by Punyadham Ashram for the underprivileged section of our society, that too without any expense or dowry. This is the 10^th year that this unique function has been organized, and to date, over 165 couples coming from humble families have been wedded in a grand celebration.

The excitement, energy, and anticipation of over 2500 people at the venue were infectious, with all the hustle-bustle of wedding arrangements, the sounds of shehnai, floral decorations, and festive atmosphere everywhere in Punyadham.

The brides looked radiant in Gold-Red sarees, beautifully adorned jewelry, and the grooms smartly dressed in ‘Sherwanis, phetas & mojris’. The baraat procession of the grooms entered with all the baraatis dancing, while the brides’ families eagerly waited to welcome them. Finally, after the grooms joined their respective brides in the beautifully decorated mandap, the learned pandits started chanting the wedding rituals. The marriage ceremony was performed ia n traditional Maharashtrian antarpat, followed by the pheras and the kanyadaan ceremony, in the presence of esteemed guests.

“Every year, Punyadham Ashram organizes a mass marriage ceremony of girls whose families cannot afford the expenses of an elaborate wedding. The girls are supported to fulfil their dreams of having a beautiful wedding ceremony with their families & friends. This unique institution is trying to bring about a change in the mindset of the populace by discouraging the custom of dowry”, said Maa Krishna Kashyap, Chairperson, who has made ‘Service to God through Service to Humanity’ her mission in life!

The day became even more special with the gracious presence of eminent personalities who came to bless the couples. President CA Sadananda Shetty, Secretary Ghanshyam Zawar, Trustee Ganesh Kamthe, along with renowned philanthropist Smt. Mamata Sindhutai Sapkal, Vijay Soni, Vishwanath Todkar, and renowned personalities Mahadev Babar, Gafoor Pathan, Virsen Jagtap, Sangita Tai Thosar, Jalinder Kamthe, and Vasant More were also present to bless the newlyweds.
 

After all the traditional rituals, it was time for the Chairperson Maa Krishna Kashyap, President Sadananda Shetty, the Trustees, and the special guests to bless the young couples with gifts and trousseau, consisting of household items, dinner sets, cookers, blankets, new sarees, and salwar-kameez sets, to help the newlyweds start their married life. “Our best wishes are with these couples and hope they find true happiness and togetherness in life”, said Maa Kashyap.

It was a delightful sight to witness those couples who were married a few years ago come together to celebrate this special occasion. The guests were then treated to a lavish Maharashtrian lunch, which was enjoyed thoroughly by all.

The whole credit for this immensely noble initiative goes to Maa Krishna Kashyap, who meticulously planned this massive event, which was perfectly executed. Without her dedicated support, gracious presence, and inspiration, none of the activities of Punyadham Ashram would be possible.

The post Heartwarming Mass Wedding Ceremony Unites 18 Couples at Punyadham Ashram appeared first on NRI News.

The Mass Marriages ceremony is a noble initiative of Punyadham Ashram, which aims to support the neediest section of society by organizing weddings for girls whose families cannot afford the expenses of an elaborate wedding. The event is organized without any expense or dowry, and it is trying to bring about a change in the mindset of the populace by discouraging the custom of dowry.

The excitement, energy, and anticipation of over 2000 people at the venue were infectious, with all the hustle-bustle of wedding arrangements, the sounds of shehnai, floral decorations, and the festive atmosphere everywhere in Punyadham. The brides looked radiant in Gold-Red sarees and beautifully adorned jewelry, and the grooms smartly dressed in ‘Sherwanis, phetas & mojris’. The groom’s baraat procession came in with all the baraatis dancing, and the brides’ families eagerly awaited to welcome the grooms.

Finally, after the grooms joined their respective brides in the beautifully decorated mandap, the learned pandits started chanting the wedding rituals. The marriage ceremony was performed in traditional Maharashtrian antarpat, followed by the pheras and the kanyadaan ceremony, in the presence of esteemed guests.

The day became even more special with the gracious presence of eminent personalities, including Ex-mayor of Pune- Prashantdada Jagtap, Former M.L.A Mahadev Babar, Kondhwa P.I Corporator-Nandatai Lonkar, Nagar Sevika Sangitatai Thosar, Corporator-Gafur Pathan, and many more.

After all the traditional rituals, it was time for the Chairperson Maa Krishna Kashyap, President Sadananda Shetty, the Trustees, and the special guests to bless the young couples with gifts and trousseau, consisting of household items, dinner sets, cooker, blankets, new sarees, and salwar-kameez sets., to help the newlyweds start their married life.

“Every year Punyadham Ashram organizes Mass Marriage of girls whose families cannot afford the expenses of an elaborate wedding. The girls are supported to fulfill their dreams of having a beautiful wedding ceremony with their families & friends. This unique institution is trying to bring about a change in the mindset of the populace by discouraging the custom of dowry”, said Maa Krishna Kashyap, Chairperson, who has made ‘Service to God through Service to Humanity’ her mission in life!

It was heartwarming to see couples who were married a few years ago come together to celebrate this special occasion. All the guests were treated to a lavish Maharashtrian lunch, which was enjoyed thoroughly by all.

The whole credit for this immensely noble initiative goes to Maa Krishna Kashyap, who meticulously planned this massive event, which was perfectly executed. Without her dedicated support, gracious presence, and inspiration, none of the activities of Punyadham Ashram are possible.

Punyadham Ashram’s annual Mass Marriages ceremony was a grand success, and it marked another milestone in the institution’s noble initiative to support the most needy section of society. The event was a heartwarming experience for all who witnessed it, and it showcased the power of love, compassion, and community spirit.

The post Punyadham Ashram’s Annual Mass Marriages a Grand Success appeared first on NRI News.

According to Maa Krishna Kashyap, Chairperson of Vishwa Jagriti Mission Trust, dialysis treatment is not only painful but also expensive. The new center aims to provide affordable treatment to those in need who cannot afford it.

The center was made possible thanks to the generous contribution of Clover Builders. Raj Bhansali, Director of Clover Builders, expressed his privilege in contributing to this magnanimous initiative by Punyadham Ashram.

The center will soon be open to deserving patients and is just one of many social welfare activities conducted by Punyadham Ashram. The organization also runs a Senior Citizens’ Home, a glorious Shree Siddeshwar Mahadev Mandir, a magnificent Shikhar of Mt Kailash, a resplendent Sai Mandir, a Gaushala with more than 55 indigenous breed cows, and the Krishna Avataar Sanskritik Bhavan, which can accommodate 3000 people at a time and is used for social, spiritual, and cultural programs.

Punyadham Ashram also conducts many social welfare activities, including the rehabilitation of families affected by natural calamities, sponsoring the education of deserving girls from insurgency-hit areas of Maharashtra, conducting mass marriages for the families of poor farmers, conducting medical camps, and motivational programs for women inmates of the Yerwada jail.

The post Punyadham Ashram Launches State-of-the-Art Dialysis Centre for Underprivileged Patients appeared first on NRI News.

Sadananda Shetty, President welcomed the Chief Guest Padmabhushan Dr K.H. Sancheti, Padmabhushan Dr Vijay Bhatkar, M. P. Mansinghka, Guest of Honour Dayal N. Harjani, Radhelal Gupta, Vithal Maniar and Sarita Mansinghka. He briefed the vision and mission of Punyadham.

The day started with the inaugural ceremony of the newly built Gaushala by Dr. Vijay Bhatkar and M.P Mansinghka. This was followed by the felicitation of M.P. Mansinghka.

As a token of appreciation – he has presented with a cheque of Rs.1 lakh, a shawl, coconut, bouquet, a citation, and a majestic trophy. The citation was beautifully read by Ms. Rupa Shetty. In his acceptance speech, Mansinghkaji thanked Punyadham for all the honor showered on him. He said that there is still so much that needs to be done for the deserving. “All should come together to make our society more beautiful”, he expressed.

Dr. K. N. Sancheti then related his own life story and complimented Punyadham for keeping the concept alive of “Service to mankind” & “Giving with Dignity”. Shri Dayal Harjani wrote a beautiful poem that was dedicated to Maa Krishna.

Maa Krishna graciously shared how Punyadham came into being and the whole idea behind its creation. She very eloquently sighted examples and spoke in parables to make the audience understand her message of humanity that work should not be a duty or compulsion but should bring joy and fulfillment.

The whole program was meticulously organized by Ramesh Grover. The momentous day came to a befitting end after delicious delectable prasadam was enjoyed by one & all.

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