Event date: 27th April, 2024
Manchi Pustakam was set to celebrate 20 years of being a registered public trust in April of 2024. We started talking about planning an event for it, about 5-6 months in advance. In January, we began to outline the key messages we wanted to put forth.
When the first round of invites went out on 2nd March, the excitement kicked in!
The days before the event were as busy as could be! We were creating and editing posters (about 65 in all!), getting special bookmarks printed for the occasion, scheduling storytelling sessions, making arrangements for lunch/refreshments, stationary shopping and more…all the while publishing new books! Our to-do list seemed to be getting longer by the minute!
We sent out a second invite with the program details a few days prior to the event :
And soon enough, the D-day arrived! We had the posters set up in the main hall, and book sales in a smaller hall across the corridor. The last couple of hours went by in a flash – but we were so grateful for the many friends who showed up early to help us out with last minute arrangements. And once the first guests started arriving, the day just kept getting bigger and better! Here are a few snaps, taken early in the day:
The heart of what we do – the children! So, of course we had to have a kids corner where they could draw, colour and read. We also had two storytelling sessions organized – Sailaja Vissamsetty garu & Bhoomika Theatre Group – who enthralled everyone!
The response of our friends who came to celebrate with us was beyond all our expectations. And the day was nothing short of festive! A few highlights:
Though the occasion was Manchi Pustakam completing 20 years, we want to reiterate that it was only due to the efforts of innumerable people over the past 35 years that we are here today. This includes (but is not limited to) our families, friends, partners, contributors, service providers, well-wishers and volunteers. We acknowledge our gratitude to each of you!
ఈ ప్రయాణంలో జత కలిసిన, ప్రోత్సహించిన ఎందరో శ్రేయోభిలాషులు ఉండటం వల్లనే ఏ ఇబ్బందులు లేకుండా ఈ ప్రయాణం సాగింది. అందరికీ హృదయపూర్వక నమస్సుమాంజలులు.
పి. భాగ్యలక్ష్మి
Thank you for making our event memorable and successful!
