Evolution of #DaanUtsav

#DaanUtsav, previously known as Joy of Giving Week, marks India’s celebration of giving back, starting on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2nd) and running through October 8th annually since 2009. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including students, professionals, celebrities, and media personalities, engage in various acts of giving. They contribute their time, funds, resources, or skills through self-created or chosen events, showcasing the festival’s inclusive spirit.

DaanUtsav celebrations range from simple acts like treating someone to an ice cream party to large-scale events such as “Gift Compassion,” involving over 10,000 school children exchanging gifts annually. In 2016, the festival saw widespread engagement, with over 1,500 events organized in 200 cities, demonstrating the expansive reach and collective enthusiasm of participants across the country.

The festival, originally branded by EuroRSCG India in 2009, was renamed in 2013 to ensure wider understanding and inclusivity, reflecting its growth and the diverse socio-economic participation it garners across India.

Reshuffle the desk

The smile deck

Explore this straightforward tool designed to generate intriguing ideas for acts of kindness! With just a click of the shuffle button, unlock a myriad of fresh and captivating suggestions for spreading goodwill. Embrace the joy of discovering new avenues for kindness and make someone’s day brighter today!

Your resource hub for

# DaanUtsav

Apartments

Residential complexes across India celebrate #DaanUtsav in a variety of interesting ways. It helps them bond together as a community, thus enhancing trust and the sense of safety and well being, while also strengthening their gratitude muscles and contributing money, material or time to a cause.

The video below shows how you too can celebrate #DaanUtsav in your apartment, society, RWA or ALM.

Corporate (Employee Engagement)

More than 1,000 corporates across India engage their employees in a range of #DaanUtsav activities through simple initiatives like collection & donation drives, cleanup and plantation activities, visits to NGOs, etc. Some use ideas like Sponge the CEO or MasterChef contests to raise money innovatively. All of them help induct new employees into the “giving experience” and improve employees’ sense of belonging.

Here’s how different corporates have engaged employees in giving back to society.

Networks and Associations

Networks and associations like CII, FICCI-FLO, IAMAI, NHRD, MTHR, MCCI, CREDAI, AHAR and others have regularly engaged their members in celebrating #DaanUtsav. Some have run awareness campaigns to ensure that all members individually participate, while others have organised events bringing their members together.

Check out this video for some simple ideas of how Networks and Associations can celebrate #DaanUtsav.

Individuals

Millions of people across the country celebrate #DaanUtsav between October 2 and 8 by doing acts of giving themselves or by getting together with friends and family — autorickshaw drivers sponsor meals for the poor, RJs help vegetable vendors make better sales, groups of people everywhere make and distribute sandwiches or other food items, people donate money and material to various NGOs, etc.

You too can celebrate the festival and do something special for a stranger.

Watch this video to see how Babli celebrated #DaanUtsav. If you would like to organise giving events in your school, college, club, apartment or organisation, click here.

Colleges

Over a thousand colleges, institutes and universities celebrate #DaanUtsav! Students, student clubs, NSS or faculty drive the initiative in most cases. Some youth groups and nonprofits run campaigns across campuses too. Students pick up invaluable leadership skills, while developing empathy and doing their bit for society.

Check out this video to see examples of how youth have celebrated #DaanUtsav.

Government

From Railways to NSS at the Centre, from Police to Education departments across State Governments and various departments of Municipal corporations and District Administrations, several Government Departments and Institutions help citizens celebrate #DaanUtsav and experience the joy in giving. These initiatives bring the citizen and State closer to each other.

Watch this short video to see how various departments in the government have celebrated the festival.

NGOs

NGOs have been the earliest participants in #DaanUtsav, using the platform to raise money, donations in kind as well as to seek volunteers for their cause. Many NGOs create large scale events during #DaanUtsav to engage the public, raise awareness about their cause and their own work, and to obtain the resources they need.

#DaanUtsav

Corporate (Customer Engagement)

Many leading corporates have reached out to their customers and given them a chance to experience the joy in giving first hand! They do it, not only out of a sense of duty but also because it deepens customer loyalty and creates goodwill for their brand in the community.

Watch how corporates have given millions of customers the experience of the joy in giving.

Group and Communities

Clubs like Rotary, Lions, Giants & Round Table, groups like Trekking, Running or Cycling groups, communities like the Marwari Association, Art of Living and Isha Foundation and recreational & sports clubs like The Tolly Club, Bombay Gymkhana celebrate #DaanUtsav as it brings their members together for a cause, thus building deeper bonds and infusing a greater sense of purpose into their activities.

Here are a few examples of how Groups, clubs and communities celebrate #DaanUtsav.

Schools

Every leader in the world will agree that empathy and socio-emotional intelligence are the most important skills for the 21st century. Smart schools are recognising this and leveraging #DaanUtsav to incorporate these learnings into their curricular and extra-curricular processes.

See how children not only do good, but learn invaluable life skills in the process, from this video