In honour of ‘Mayan’, fest to hail elderly

Lucknow: The fifth edition of the annual Mayan Mahotsav will be held on Feb 15 at Kamala Kutir, Gram Gadaila, Itaunja, Lucknow, celebrating invaluable role of ‘Mother' and senior citizens in our lives. The festival is a unique effort to bring together rural and urban cultures on a single platform, highlighting the wisdom, experiences and contributions of elderly citizens. In Rajasthani dialect, ‘Mayan' means mother, symbol of selfless love, sacrifice, forgiveness and inspiration. The festival aims to unite diverse sensibilities under the shared ethos of compassion, respect and gratitude for elders. This year's edition is dedicated to honoring senior citizens who have contributed to social upliftment, agriculture, women empowerment and child welfare. Seven distinguished senior citizens from rural areas, including three women, will be felicitated during the inaugural ceremony. The celebrations will feature soulful songs by Lucknow singer Prabha Srivastava, followed by a Sufi music performance by Aman Azam.Historian Ravi Bhatt will be chief guest. The festival combines cultural performances with a social purpose inspiring society to support, respect and empower senior citizens while making their lives more dignified and fulfilling.