-By Madhuparna Sukul Roy
We are often very good at remembering what we have given. We are less good at remembering everything we have received. Our campaign this Daan Utsav 2026 is here to remind us of exactly that.
Every October, Daan Utsav turns the country’s attention toward generosity. It’s a week when ordinary people quietly become something more. Last year, through Daan Se Pehchaan, Anudip framed that shift simply. Through the idea that giving isn’t only a transaction, but it’s an identity. The philanthropist is already present in each of us, waiting to be found.
This year, we build on it through the #AbMeriBaari initiative. It carries that same spirit forward, from an identity for giving to a moment for action. Now, it’s your turn.
But before we say what that turn should look like, it’s worth pausing on a quieter question. What did we receive before we had anything to give? Somewhere behind almost every life that looks self-made, there is a teacher who stayed twenty minutes late. Or, it could be a relative who paid a fee and never mentioned it again, a stranger who pointed the way and so on. But none of it shows up on a resume. It shows up in who we became and it is where #AbMeriBaari truly begins.
Daan Utsav 2026: A Week That Makes Us Pause
Daan Utsav (previously known as Joy of Giving Week) has been observed across India from October 2nd to 8th since 2009. It falls before the Indian festivities kick in and aligns with Gandhi Jayanti. The week gives the nation a turn to pause. It spreads happiness across every home, among every human and to every being in the country, for a greater celebration.
In the years since, it has grown into one of the country’s largest collective gestures. Individuals, educational institutions, corporates and non-profits each choose, in their own way, to give during that one week.
#AbMeriBaari: Giving Forward What We Once Received
Ab meri baari (now it’s my turn) is not a slogan Anudip is asking people to adopt. It is a private sentence. Each person finishes it differently. For many of us, it begins with a donation, sponsoring a student’s full training, or supporting one part of that journey. It could be in any form, such as a course, a certification or a laptop.
The best philanthropy matches what a donor genuinely has to offer, not only what feels most visible. It’s about noticing that the opportunity someone once gave you didn’t have to end with you. It’s about choosing, this Daan Utsav, to give it forward.
Passing the Baton: An Anudip Alumni Story
Nowhere is this more evident than in the person who was once on the receiving end of an opportunity and has since found their own way to extend one.
One such shining example is Parag Srivastava from Jharkhand. He joined Anudip in 2018, training in Digital Literacy with Excel specialisation and Customer Support at the BIT Centre in his state. It’s an inspiring journey of a young man from a background of limited opportunity.
Despite the odds, he was determined to change more than just his own circumstances. Today, he works at a top private bank, Axis Direct, where his salary has grown 4.5 times since he completed his graduation.
Yet a rising salary is only half the story. What Parag chose to do with it is the richer half. Every month since 2018, Parag has given back to Anudip. That steady support has helped more than 60 students find training and placement.
He believes that more young people deserve the same chance he once received. As he puts it, the foundation Anudip built for him made this journey possible. So, quietly, he now builds that same foundation for others.
Stories like this rarely announce themselves as significant. From outside, they look like an ordinary career, but they are exactly the point. The opportunity did not end with the person who received it. It simply changed hands.
No matter the form it takes, giving always counts
Giving takes many shapes and Daan Utsav has never asked for one in particular.
Some of our donors stepped up to sponsor a student’s full training. Others opted to support a part of that learning journey which included a course, a certification, or a laptop. A CSR professional partner opening a door to a hiring pipeline, creating opportunities for those who’ve been waiting for one for far too long. None of these is a lesser form of giving. The best philanthropy matches what a donor genuinely has to offer.
Our alumni, meanwhile, are giving back in their own way. While some are sponsoring a student’s fees, others are stepping up to run hands-on sessions on finance management, career readiness, or interview preparation.
Every one of these efforts, big or small, visible or behind the scenes, is #AbMeriBaari in motion.
A Quiet Thought to Close On
Perhaps none of us reaches where we are entirely on our own. Somewhere along the way, someone extended a hand we didn’t ask for. And, it changed the shape of everything after.
Daan Utsav 2026 falls between October 2nd and 8th. Whatever form your giving takes this year, remember what you received, and join the voices saying ‘Ab Meri Baari.’ Whether you fundraise, fund a student’s training, spend an afternoon mentoring, or simply talk to someone starting out, ask yourself what you once received that made this moment possible, and what your own #AbMeriBaari might look like.
[Donate here] and take your turn
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Daan Utsav 2026?
India’s annual festival of giving, observed nationwide through donations, volunteering and community acts of generosity.
When is Daan Utsav 2026?
October 2nd to October 8th, a tradition since 2009.
Why is Daan Utsav celebrated around Gandhi Jayanti?
The week opens on October 2nd, Gandhi’s birthday, tying the festival to his ideals of service.
Can I give my time or skills instead of money?
Yes. You can participate meaningfully by mentoring a student or sharing your professional experience.
How can I sponsor a student’s training?
Donors can sponsor a student’s training through organisations like Anudip Foundation, covering fees, certification, or a full learning cycle.