The Indian Ladies Association (ILA) will mark 70 years of community service and cultural friendship with a platinum jubilee gala on December 10.
The renowned group unveiled its grand plans for the anniversary celebrations, under the patronage of INJAZ Bahrain chairperson and Supreme Council for Women member Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, in a Press conference yesterday.
The celebrations will culminate in a glittering ceremony at the Gulf Hotel Convention and Spa in Manama, featuring symbolic entertainment and live fusion music from Bahrain and India, the inaugural ILA CSR (corporate social responsibility) Excellence Awards 2026 and the release of a commemorative coffee table book.
“Seventy years of ILA represents a shared legacy of friendship, service and cross-cultural unity within the kingdom,” ILA president Smitha Jensen said during the Press conference.
“Launching the ILA CSR Excellence Awards allows us to honour those who champion our motto, ‘Service Before Self,’ while deepening corporate partnerships that amplify our charitable reach across the community,” she added.
The inaugural edition of the awards, organised with knowledge partner KPMG-Fakhro, will recognise corporate entities and outstanding individuals in the community across four main categories: Excellence in Women Empowerment, Sustainable Environment Initiative, CSR Company of the Year and Woman of Impact – Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Entries will be accepted from all Bahrain-based companies with a Bahrain CR (commercial registration) and individuals of all nationalities residing in Bahrain. The main criteria is that the CSR work should be quantifiable and directly beneficial to Bahrain and local causes.
“Entries will be digitally processed online and assessed in the first round by KPMG-Fakhro and the finalists will be interviewed by a distinguished jury panel, comprising Bahraini and expatriate leaders, who will select the winners,” Awards Committee Lead Rekha Utham said.
As part of the platinum jubilee celebrations, a commemorative coffee table book will also be released, capturing the legacy of the ILA and other pioneering women’s groups in Bahrain through inspiring stories.
More details on corporate packages and tickets to the gala will be announced at a later date. All profits from the event will directly support ILA’s ongoing local charitable initiatives.
For more information, follow @ilabahrain on Instagram or visit ilabahrain.com
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