Vayah Vikas’ Hiriyara Habba was more than an event. It was a day shaped entirely around seniors — their joy, their curiosity, and their remarkable spirit.
More than a thousand seniors and their families attended the Hiriyara Habba, filling the venue with colour, laughter, and shared enthusiasm. Everywhere you turned, there were conversations, reunions, new friendships, and the unmistakable sense of a community celebrating life at every age.
From the start, our intention was clear: to create a space where seniors felt engaged, energised, and valued.
Dr. Jamuna Ravi, CEO, Vayah Vikas, set the tone by emphasising the importance of environments that help seniors stay confident and connected. Our Chairperson, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, reinforced this vision with his reminder that active ageing is not only possible, but powerful, when communities come together.
We were privileged to welcome Justice Santosh Hegde as Guest of Honour. His message that ageing is enriched with wisdom and contribution echoed the purpose of Hiriyara Habba. He also presented the inaugural Vayah Vikas Senior Excellence Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements across social service, education and lifelong learning, and arts, culture and sports.
Founding Board Member Dr. Alexander Thomas reflected on the journey of Vayah Vikas and the growing impact of community-led initiatives for senior wellbeing.
Actor Deepak Rai Panaje expressed how deeply he was moved by the enthusiasm and imagination seniors displayed throughout the event.
Throughout the day, seniors explored stalls, exchanged ideas and rediscovered hobbies. They met creators like “Maggi Pustaka” producer Chinnaswamy Yathiraj and senior artist Mysore Ramananda, whose message to keep creativity alive resonated deeply.
The spirit of the event was captured in moving moments — the pride of participating in cultural performances, the excitement of learning something new and the shared delight of simply being together. Veeragase, Kathak and an energetic showcase by the Diana Tholloor Academy brought a festive rhythm that kept everyone engaged.
The Ekta Hub Experience Zone became a hub of activity, offering practical support through legal and financial guidance, digital literacy, cyber safety and comprehensive wellness assessments. Seniors made full use of these services, reaffirming our belief that access and awareness are essential to ageing well.
The day ended on a cheerful note with the Lucky Draw, supported by the Kantara team, sending seniors home with laughter and shared memories.
Our COO, Ms. Pavithra Reddy, expressed heartfelt gratitude to every senior who joined us, and to the volunteers, partners and community members who helped bring this vision to life.
Hiriyara Habba 2025 reaffirmed what Vayah Vikas stands for: seniors are active, vibrant contributors to society, and when we create spaces that recognise their strengths, they shine.