The Little Santa

Little Mili excitedly came from school.

“Mom guess what? Remember the Story-writing competition I had taken part? I won the first prize- Rs 500!” 

“That’s wonderful, dear! How do you plan to spend it?” her Mom asked.

“Tomorrow is Children’s Day. I wish to buy some Parle G biscuit-packets, Note-Copies, Nataraj Pencils & Erasers and distribute amongst the slum children,” said Mili.

Her Mom had tears in her eyes as she hugged Mili.

It was that Special Children's Day programme on Doordarshan that they had together watched a few days ago that had highlighted to the young impressionable mind of Mili how needy some kids are… Many don’t have access to even basic facilities and requirements like Roti, Kapda, Makaan (Food, Clothes, House) leave alone school or education. That day Mili had asked her Mom how they can help the children. 

Shaadi.com Prize- A Sweet Treat Tweet Story!

I love Twitter & Twitter Contests! But, though I take part in many contests like crazy, my wins are few and far between...

Last month, Shaadi.com had a Twitter contest.

The CONTEST JUNKIE in me couldn't miss it!

I went to the Airport on a HOT day and spotted the COOL Shaadi.com sign-board there and hopefully uploaded the pics for the 'Spot #Shaadi.com At The Airport' Contest!

The prize was an IPAD Mini!

And guess what? I won it thanks to Shaadi.com !

When the announcement was made on Twitter, I was travelling in a Bus, taking my Kid to a Video-Conference, scheduled to be held at the other end of the city. As she had qualified for a Literary Scholarship, my kid was to be interviewed by an esteemed panel that included Ruskin Bond and the Brand-Ambassador of Shaadi.com - Chetan Bhagat! I couldn't help but notice this!


When I was declared a winner of this contest, I got many congratulatory messages through tweets!
A BIG Thanks to all you lovely folks!

I was smiling a lot and wanted to jump in joy, but didn't as I was travelling in the bus!

You can read how I won my first IPAD and what happened after I was declared a winner of the Shaadi.com contest in my Post- SHAADI TO THE RESCUE


My kid started constantly asking me, "Mamma, When will you get the IPAD?"
She's the happiest and most eager as she loves gadgets!
My kid wanted to play games! :)


All the people who knew of my win, also enquired, "When will you get?"

There are many people who never believe that such contests are for real!
They ask me, with surprise written all over their face, "You mean Brands actually send the prizes?"


Along with me, Aniruddha Pathak (@DanceEatRepeat), who needs no introduction to the Twitter Contest-World, was a winner of the same contest too!

 
Team Shaadi.Com was constantly in touch with us giving updates about the prize! As I was in my home-town in Odisha for Durga Puja celebration, I had shared my Odisha address for prize-dispatch.

 

We were happy and waiting eagerly hoping to get our IPAD soon! We were to send pics of it when we received!

Team Shaadi.Com heeded to my request and shared the Courier tracking details too!

Unfortunately, Cyclone Phailin struck Odisha and the said flight, that was carrying my precious prize, was cancelled...

But, even Aniruddha had not got his prize though there were no Cyclones in Mumbai!

Dear God, Please save all our cities from cyclones...

Eventually he received it a couple of days before I received mine!

When I received my IPAD, I acknowledged it to Team Shaadi.Com!

Team Shaadi.Com wants me to send the pics!

Am sharing them right here, right now!

Here are the pics!

Thanks a lot, Shaadi.com

A great Diwali gift indeed! :)


[Note-
1. I am sharing this to honour Shaadi.com request for pics.

2. I added extra info to preserve this great experience in my Blog as I do not want these tweets to get lost in my Twitter TL!

3. This is not an advertisement or bragging about my win!

4. My IPAD is special as it's my first Apple product win, that too after YEARS of trying sincerely to win in contests, putting in loads of hard-work and spending time and resources, and yet not giving up hope!

5. All you non-believers, do note that some trusted Brands actually send the prizes!!!

6. All you believers, keep the hope and faith and keep trying sincerely!

Best wishes to you and may we all WIN BIG prizes like IPAD! Cheers! ]

My Escape Express Trip!

In August 2013, Lonely Planet India had organized an ‘#EscapeExpress’ contest in which we had to upload a Blog with photographs or a Video about any place in India.

The explorer in me was super-happy to see this great travel-contest! There were some cool prizes too. But, the challenging thing was being in the Top-12 to win those- 1^st , 2^nd & 10 3^rd prizes! The contest was to be judged on creativity and ‘Votes’.

The latter was a dampener as I stay away from Voting contests and ‘begging for votes’ is not my cup of tea! Yet, for the #EscapeExpress, I indulged in precisely that!

First, I couldn’t decide which trip of mine should I select as my entry as I have loved them all! I decided on Coorg as I am enamoured by Madikeri, the Golden Temple- Bylakuppe’s Namdroling Monastery and the birthplace of the River Cauvery- TalaCauvery… After sincere hard-work, I was happy when my Video-Entry – ‘Magical Coorg’ was approved and put up on the Lonely Planet website. 

But, Vote- gathering turned out to be quite a challenge! I called up, emailed, SMSed, tweeted…used up all the levels possible for me! Begged for votes to all! Did self-promo too!

Thankfully, I had company in this shameless vote-appeal- the rest of the contestants were also wholeheartedly doing the same! Friends were forthcoming & helpful and voted and shared my Video with all! 

I ended with a score more than a century- a princely 107 Votes! 

Thanks a lot, Friends & Family, for voting for me!

The results declared that I was one of the 10 3^rd Prize Winners of the contest! 

I have won a Gift-Card thanks to Lonely Planet, India! Now shopping at Shoppers Stop!