LUCKNOW, Feb. 16 -- A village on the outskirts of the city turned into a cultural venue on Sunday as the fifth edition of 'Mayan Mahotsav' was held at Kamla Kutir in Gadela, Itaunja. This year's focus was on senior citizens from the rural belt. The annual festival, whose name 'Mayan' translates to 'mother' in the Rajasthani dialect, has previously centred on rural youth, environmental workers, cancer survivors and the visually impaired. Organisers said that the 2026 edition was dedicated to the elderly, seeking to highlight their social contributions and lived experiences Seven individuals were conferred the 'Mayan Samman' for their work at the grassroots level. Among them was Kalimullah Khan, a Padma Shri awardee known for cultivating multiple mango varieties on a single tree. Also honoured were former village head Santosh Singh for his public service; Jagdev Yadav for agricultural and humanitarian assistance; Ramji for devotional and social engagement; Shiv Dulari Chaurasia, principal of Rama Inter College, for her contribution to education; Anganwadi worker Aruna Kumari for maternal and child welfare outreach; and Madhurani of Gadela for her community work and resilience Chief guest Dr Ravi Bhatt, addressing the gathering, spoke about the need for stronger linkages between urban and rural communities and greater social sensitivity towards senior citizens. The programme also featured cultural performances. Singer Dr Prabha Srivastava presented songs associated with an earlier era, while a young performer, Master Aman Azam rendered Sufi compositions. Dr Anand Prakash Maheshwari, retired DG-CRPF, who coordinated the event, said, "Such events help us revisit the experience-based values passed down by our ancestors, many of which we have forgotten over time."...