The event was the brainchild of the Rotary Club of Pune Cantonment in alliance with Savali, an association for mentally-retarded and cerebral palsy children. “Rotary Club has been organising such programmes from the year 1990. So far we have arranged a sports meet for these children, but from this year, we decided to entertain them whole-heartedly with lots of music and songs, without getting the competitive spirit in the programme, hence the name was derived as Anand Mela,” said Veena Chawla, chairperson of the Rotary Club of Pune Cantonment.

“In fact this year, we went a step further and have invited the parents of these unique children, who rarely take their children out due to various social complexes. We have received a good response,” said Shailesh Gandhi Rotarian and officiating president of the event.

Savali president Vasant Thakar said, “The awareness within the society with regard to the mentally-challenged and multiple disabled children should be increased, so that their talent is encouraged and they become part of the mainstream society.”

He said, “It’s a great start, this one being the first of its kind, in the near future we plan to organise a grand event for the 2000-3000 mentally retarded children in the city.”

Around 350-400 children from 22 special schools and institutes from Pune were present at the function. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds when they danced freely to the numbers like Dil hain chota sa sung by Abhilasha and Dr Salil Kulkarni Dipadi dipad.