- Durga Puja
- Mission Swayam Siddha
- Social Initiative
- Cultural Initiatives
Making a Difference to The Community
Over the last 16 years, the philosophy and core values of Powai Bengali Welfare Association have been structured as 4 key themes, all focused on making a difference to the community we live in, in various ways.
For years, Powai Sarvajanin Durgotsav has won the hearts of Mumbaikars for its uniqueness and sense of community. Each year, Mumbaikars are mesmerized by the brilliant lighting, the marvellous Puja pandal, and the gorgeous idol, which together help to showcase the rich culture and tradition of India. Particularly, the Powai Durgotsav has been a trend-setter in designing natmanchas. In the past years, the Durgotsav showcased the architectural marvels of Indian temples like the Dakshineswar temple, Lotus temple, Belur math, Bishnupur Temple, the Konarak Temple, the Sripuram Golden Temple, and organised the first theme Puja on Gram Bangla last year. Lakhs of visitors from all walks of life throng the Powai Durgotsav, join in the community bhog (lunch), and turn it into a kaleidoscope of culture.
Among the unique in-house PBWA social initiatives is Mission Swayam Siddha (MSS). Launched in 2007, MSS is an initiative at the grassroots level to empower economically and socially less advantaged women. Thanks to the untiring effort of a team of PBWA volunteers, MSS, operating from a chawl at Gautam Nagar, Powai, has grown from strength to strength, products made by trainees and sold under the MSS brand name been exhibited and supplied in corporate organisations and citizens alike, thereby convincing our trainees that becoming Swayam Siddhas is no longer a distant dream.
PBWA has made its mission to reach out to the differently challenged and socially and economically disadvantaged groups of our society and make a difference.
For instance, as part of the Durgotsav festivities, PBWA has been offering a platform to several NGOs to showcase their activities through stalls provided free of cost to draw more people to their respective social causes, along with providing financial assistance to each of them.
Some of the NGOs we have worked with:
- Vatsalya Trust (working for street childrens)
- MBA Foundation & Holy Cross Special Convent School (working for mentally challenged children)
- Helen Keller Institute for Deaf and Dumb,
- RACE (working for rehabilitation of girls and minors rescued from the red light area)
- Nava Nirmiti (works for propagation of mathematics amongst children)
- Pranab Kanya (providing home and foster care for the girl child)
- Bharat Sevashram Sangha
PBWA has been actively promoting art and culture through various initiatives ranging across music, drama and dance. For instance, in 2010, the association had organised a concert featuring Ustad Rashid Khan and Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. In 2012, it hosted the drama Raja Lear featuring Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Shri Soumitra Chattopadhay in the title role, a first in Mumbai, and true to PBWA’s reputation, the event was totally sold out and was a runaway success.
PBWA has also partnered with the internationally acclaimed danseuse Tanusree Shankar to launch the Tanusree Shankar Dance Academy in Mumbai for the very first time. The response to this initiative that commenced with a 10-week workshop has been overwhelming, with participants flocking from near and far to be a part of this unique experience.