National Senior Citizens Day 2026 Celebrated in Tenkasi

189th Week of VAMA’s Saturday Sangamam brings together nearly 200 senior citizens

VAMA Charitable Trust, in association with the Tenkasi Senior Citizens Council and CONSORT, Madurai, celebrated National Senior Citizens Day 2026 along with the 189th Week of VAMA’s Saturday Sangamam at Tenkasi on Saturday.

The programme brought together nearly 200 senior citizens from different parts of Tenkasi, along with representatives of NGOs, senior citizens’ organisations, partner institutions, volunteers and well-wishers. The celebration focused on promoting healthy ageing, financial security, digital awareness and meaningful engagement of senior citizens, while recognising and honouring elders who have made valuable contributions to society.

The programme was graced by Ms. Mathivadana, District Social Welfare Officer, Tenkasi. Mr. M. Muthukumarasamy, Trustee, VAMA Charitable Trust, welcomed the gathering and participated in honouring the distinguished guests and awardees.
Senior Citizen Achiever Awards
Senior citizens who have made significant contributions in different fields were honoured with Senior Citizen Achiever Awards:
Dr. C. Tharmaraj – Healthcare
Dr. S. Soundara Rajan – Healthcare
Prof. K. S. Palaniappan – Tamil Literature
Mr. M. Sankaranarayanan – Agriculture
Dr. G. S. Vijayalakshmi – Environment
Mr. Dorai Thamburaj – Eldercare

The award ceremony recognised not merely age, but the experience, knowledge, service and continuing contribution of senior citizens to society.
Valuable Sessions by Partner Institutions
A special feature of the programme was the participation of professionals from DBS Bank, Kauvery Hospital and Tata AIG, who responded positively to VAMA’s invitation and shared information specifically relevant to the needs and aspirations of senior citizens.

Experts from Kauvery Hospital created awareness on healthcare and healthy ageing, while representatives of DBS Bank shared useful information relating to financial wellbeing, wealth management and financial security for senior citizens. Representatives of Tata AIG spoke about insurance and protection, as well as opportunities for senior citizens to continue contributing their experience and expertise through “Experience in Action” initiatives.

We are happy to share the successful completion of the *188th Week of VAMA’s Saturday Sangamam, held on **16th August 2026* in association with the *Tamil Ilakkiya Peravai, Ambasamudram*.

As part of the programme, VAMA facilitated the participation of senior citizens in the Tamil Ilakkiya Peravai event. More than *80 elders* participated enthusiastically and got a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talents and skills on the stage. The elders enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the cultural activities and express their talents in front of the audience.

*Mr. Lakshmanan, Secretary of the Tamil Ilakkiya Peravai*, appreciated the efforts and performance of the VAMA team and expressed his appreciation for the support extended by VAMA in organising the programme for senior citizens.

Our *Trustee, Mr. Muthukumarasamy*, also participated in the event and spoke about the valuable services rendered by the Tamil Ilakkiya Peravai for senior citizens. He appreciated their efforts in recognising the talents and contributions of the elderly and highlighted the importance of respecting and honouring senior citizens in society. He also appreciated their initiatives towards nurturing the skills of the younger generation, including school and college students.

We are happy to share the highlights of the 187th Week of Sangamam, held on 8th August 2026 at Alwarkurichy. This week’s Sangamam was organised as a spiritually enriching Thiruvasagam Muttothuthal, with the participation of our elders from various locations.

The programme was conducted with the support of Sivagami Ammal Thiruvasaga Team from Sivanthipuram Sivamthipuram. Our elders had the wonderful opportunity to join the Thiruvasaga team and spend the entire day immersed in spiritual activities and devotional memories.

The Sengol Atheenam from Perungulam graced the occasion and blessed all the participating elders. The traditional Kailaya Vathiyam was performed by experienced experts, and our elders greatly enjoyed the devotional music and the spiritual atmosphere.

VAMA arranged breakfast and lunch for all the participating elders. The elders also had a valuable opportunity to meet and interact with many other elders, share their experiences, and spend meaningful time together.

We are delighted to share the successful completion of the 186th Week of Sangamam, held on 1st August 2026 at our Sailam Centre. More than 100 elders enthusiastically participated and spent a joyful and meaningful day with us.

As the day was dedicated to Health Awareness, we invited our associated Heartfulness Team and the trustee of Nalvalvu Ashram, Mr. Nalvalvu, to guide our elders on maintaining good physical and mental health during their senior years.

The programme began with a prayer to Soundarya Ganapathy, seeking blessings for the well-being of everyone. This was followed by a Heartfulness meditation session, where the team guided the elders through simple meditation techniques. The participants expressed that the session brought them a deep sense of peace, calmness, and relaxation, helping them relieve stress and enjoy a peaceful state of mind.

Following the meditation, Mr. Nalvalvu from Nalvalvu Ashram delivered an informative and interactive health awareness session. He answered many questions raised by the elders and shared valuable natural health practices. He advised the elders to reduce their intake of rice, especially during the evening, and instead include more millets, nuts, and seasonal fruits in their daily diet. He also shared several simple and practical tips to maintain physical and mental health naturally, without spending extra money. The elders appreciated his guidance and expressed that the session was highly useful for leading a healthier and more conscious lifestyle.
We were also delighted to have our well-wisher Mr. Venkadesh join the Sangamam along with his family. They spent quality time interacting with our elders and wholeheartedly volunteered in serving lunch with warmth, love, and respect. Their compassionate involvement created a joyful atmosphere, making the elders feel valued and cared for
After the awareness sessions, everyone enjoyed a delicious and nutritious lunch consisting of Sodhi Kulambu, Potato Poriyal, Sambar, Rasam, Mor, Payasam, Appalam, and Vadai. The elders appreciated the meal and enjoyed dining together in a warm and caring atmosphere.