OPA Carnival 2016 held at Ludhiana

Ludhiana, March 30, 2016: Celebrated on the eve of Holi, OPA Carnival is the annual event of Offset Printers’ Association. Family get-to-gather is organized just to remember the rich culture and healthy traditions of Punjab, prompting the value of society and togetherness. On this day traditional filed games like ‘Chatti Race’, ‘Tug-of-war’, ‘Sack Race’, ‘Three Leg Race’ etc are organized not only for fun but to wake up the feelings of competitiveness between the youth and children. OPA started celebrating this day on the pretext of the legendary speech of Lord Macaulay at the British Parliament on 2 February 1853 - “I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a bagger, who is a thief, such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for it the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation”. Everyone can understand that where are we today? Just to educate the youth about our rich culture, strong social and moral values OPA Carnival is being organized every year.

This year the event was organized at the grounds of BBF Industries Ltd., Ludhiana on 24 March 2016. Printer families from Jalandhar, Jagraon, Nabha and Moga also joined the OPA member families to celebrate the occasion. Shri Vijay Kumar Chopra, CMD Punjab Kesari Group and President of North India Printers Association was the Chief Guest. The day long carnival was inaugurated by Mr. Parveen Aggarwal, President OPA, welcoming the members and guests he said, in the present days of busy life, it is necessary that we may take out some time for ourselves and our families. Business is becoming competitive day by day and it is becoming aggressive with the result we have to struggle to be competitive in the market. In such a struggling atmosphere, if we can dedicate one day for our family or to be with the friends enjoying the legacy of our great culture, it may be the greatest achievement of the year. I am thankful to Amarjot Arora for arranging such an atmosphere, I am glad to welcome you all to enjoy and take part in the Carnival with your heart and soul. I am deeply obliged with the presence of printer families from other cities, let us celebrate together.

The celebrations were started with sack race for women, that followed other games like sack race for men, balloon race for men, lemon race for children, chatti race for women, musical chairs for women, three leg race, tug of war between husbands and wives, partner recognition and many more fun games. Audience enjoyed the day playing the rural games. A limited over cricket match was also played between President XI and rest of OPA. There were lot of prizes and gifts for the members participating in the fun and rural games and crocket also. The daylong celebration ended with the lucky draw where first prize was Fridge, there were 2 washing machines as second prize, three Microwave as third and 4 DvD players as fourth prize. It was not the end there were 10 consolation prizes also.