A number of the city’s celebrities will be at the forefront of the ‘Joy of Giving’ celebrations / Photo: V. Ganesan / The Hindu

A 100-metre chocolate cake with photographs depicting the musical journey of Ilayaraja will just be one of the highlights of the Joy of Giving week this year.

The celebrations that commence from tomorrow, will start at Express Avenue Mall, where the cake will be unveiled in a gala event.

A series of events have been planned to mark the celebration in the city, actor Suhasini Maniratnam told media persons here on Monday.

To spread the spirit of cheer, volunteers will welcome passengers at the Central railway station on Tuesday, after which other events are scheduled to take place.

Musician Sudha Raghunathan, along with a group of vocalists will perform at corporation schools as an attempt to acquaint children from under privileged backgrounds to classical music. The artists, this year, will also take music to inmates of the Puzhal prison.

As part of the celebrations, Chennai Mission, an NGO along with Banyan will launch ‘Kind People, Happy City,’ a movement to sensitise people to the needs of homeless people.

The best hotels in the city will showcase their culinary talent and skills at ‘Battle of the Buffet’ on 6th October 2012 at Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, to raise funds for over 100 NGOs in Chennai. Musicians Srinivas and Sudha Raghunathan along with other famous singers, will perform live during the event.

The funds raised from the events would be donated to different NGOs.

“We aim to raise Rs. 2 crore this time,” said M. Mahadevan, chairman, Oriental Cuisines, one of those at the forefront of the movement here.

Nina Reddy, executive director, Savera Hotels, has initiated ‘cooking for a cause,’ that will cater to the needs of NGOs.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / October 02nd, 2012