Under the patronage of the Embassy of India, Kingdom of Bahrain, the Indian Community Relief Fund (“ICRF”) is organizing this year’s art carnival titled ‘Spectra 2018’ to be held this month. The art carnival aimed at encouraging and honouring artistic skills among the youth, is the largest art competition for students in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Faber Castell ‘Faber Castelle Spectra 2018’ carnival will be held on Friday, 14th December 2018 at The Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. This is the tenth annual art carnival by ICRF, the first one was held in the year 2009 with around 700 participants. This year a total of about 5000 children from various schools in Bahrain are expected to participate in the competition after being selected in the preliminary rounds organized in their respective schools. This annual event aims at unearthing artistic talent among the youth and creating a future generation who would be catalysts for social change.
Participants are divided into four age groups – five to eight years, eight to eleven years, eleven to fourteen years and fourteen to eighteen years. This year we also have an adult category competition for participants above 18yrs. All materials for the event are sponsored by Faber Castell who have been our title sponsor from since the start of Spectra in 2009.
The event is set to begin by 7.30 am and complete by 4.30 pm. The results will be announced same day in a finale function starting at 5.00pm just after the Drawing Competition at Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
This year we have participation from around 30 schools including The Indian School, The Asian School, The New Indian School, Sacred Heart School, New Millennium School, New Horizon School, Al Noor International School, Ibn Al Haytham School, AMA International School, Quality Education School, Zainab Govt School, New Generation School, Philippine School, Al Naseem International School, Arabian Pearl Gulf School, Bahrain Indian School, Hawar International School, Al Mahd Day Boarding School, Shaikha Hessa girls School, Al Rawabi School, New Zinj Kindergarten, Wisam International School and others. We also have students of Sneha and Ria participate at the event.
The winning entries and other outstanding creations by the children will figure in the Wall Calendars and Desk-Top Calendars designed for the year 2019. These Calendars will be launched this month at the Finale function by H.E. Mr. Alok Kumar Sinha, Ambassador of India to Bahrain A large number of each of these calendars will be made available to educational institutions, clubs, associations and businesses.
Besides the ART Carnival, this year ICRF will also be conducting a “Tribute to Bahrain – Indian Heritage Carnival” on the same date (14th December 2018) and venue, to showcase the rich Indian culture and cuisine to the participants and the general public.
A varied program highlighting the rich traditional dances, costumes and jewelry from the 29 States of Incredible India will be performed at the venue for the general public from 5pm – 8pm. A specially choregraphed 15 minutes dance segment will be performed by Indian students to pay “Tribute to Bahrain” and depict the close ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and India, since the time of the Dilmun Civilization.
The main expense of ICRF is the Family Welfare Fund which provides financial support to the families of those Indian workers who are earning less than BD 100/- per month and who tragically lose their lives in the Kingdom. After verification of documents, ICRF sends Rs. 100,000/- (approximately BD 530/- at current exchange rates) to the next of kin of the deceased worker. This support is a financial lifeline for the extremely poor and needy families who in many cases have lost their sole bread winner.
Since inception in 2009, in the past ten years, the ICRF Family Welfare Fund, has supported over 500 impoverished families in India, disbursing approximately Rupees 5 Crores (over BD 300,000), directly into the bank accounts of the legal heirs of the deceased workers. Since 2015 till 2017 we supported 144 Families and 2018 38 Families so far.
For the smooth running of this mega event, an active Organizing committee has been formed headed by Mrs. Rosaline Roy Charlie as General Convener, Mr. Aneesh as Jt Convener of the event. Ms Nisha Rangarajan Convener Indian Hertige Carnival. Sponsorship committee headed by Mr. Bala Subramanian, Mr. Nithin Jacob heads Registration,Mr. Sridhar heads judging, Mr.Sunil Kumar heads arrangement of painting materials, Mr.Murali Krishnan heads Trophies and Awards Committee, Mr.Sudheer Thirunilath for Hall /Venue arrangements, Mr.Nasser for Volunteers, Mr.Zubair for Food, Mr. John Philip for Medical, Mr.Pankaj Nallur for Media & Publicity. The team is guided by ICRF Chairman Mr. Aruldas, Vice Chairman DR Babu Ramachandan and General Secretary Mrs. Mehru Vasuvala
For further information, please contact Mr. Aruldas Thomas ,Chairman – ICRF on 39863008, Mrs Rosaline Roy, General Convener – ICRF Spectra 2018- on 39290346 or Mr. Aneesh on 39401394 and Mrs. Nisha Rangarajan for Indian Heritage and Cultural events on 39617094 and Mr. K T Salim for Stall bookings on 33750999 .
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