<p class="title">Udupi is known for <span class="italic">Krishna Janmashtami</span>.<span class="italic"> </span>The celebrations create an ambience of ecstasy amid its crowds through processions, costumes and stalls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Ravi Katpadi, a daily-wage labourer who hails from Udupi, uses this festivity to help underprivileged children get medical treatment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Five to six years ago, Ravi heard about a story of a one-month-old baby in which a doctor’s negligence left the baby’s hand dysfunctional. But her parents could not afford the surgery. He was determined to help the baby.</p>.<p class="bodytext">From that <span class="italic">Janmashtami </span>on, Ravi has been dressing up in unique costumes, entertaining people and amassing money to hand it over to ailing children.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He has so far collected around Rs 43 lakh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His costumes/attires every year are themed after aliens and monsters.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Each attire has been designed meticulously for the occasion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dinesh Muttu has been helping Ravi in this task. Still, it isn’t easy. Ravi sometimes uses up to 20 hours to paint his skin and transform into a monster.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When in a costume, Ravi doesn’t eat or sleep. He only sips on water to keep the costume intact.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ravi’s deed has earned him innumerable supporters and friends. Thus, ‘Ravi Friends Katpadi’ is a team that accompanies him every year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A crowdfunding website, MILAAP, was successful in making a documentary about Ravi Katpadi, A Kind-hearted Monster, and collecting Rs 16,80,000. The money was then donated to a few children who needed healthcare. In the first year, his costume got him Rs 1,04,810, with which he supported one child.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Rs 3,65,000 in the second year, his could support four children. The following year, the amount went up to Rs 4,20,000 and reached four children.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His costume this year, The Vampire, has got him around Rs 5 lakh and strengthened him to help seven sick children (from the district and outside) with conditions like liver cancer, blood count problem and brain haemorrhage.</p>.<p class="bodytext">For his deeds, he has been recognised as a role model for youths. He has been felicitated with the Rajyotsava Award in 2017, Yuva Seva Award etc for his work.</p>.<p class="bodytext">About helping others, he says, “Every individual can save a small amount of money and help the poor. The satisfaction and joy in return cannot be explained. To grow in a society is to live a life of humanity and gratification.”</p>
<p class="title">Udupi is known for <span class="italic">Krishna Janmashtami</span>.<span class="italic"> </span>The celebrations create an ambience of ecstasy amid its crowds through processions, costumes and stalls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Ravi Katpadi, a daily-wage labourer who hails from Udupi, uses this festivity to help underprivileged children get medical treatment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Five to six years ago, Ravi heard about a story of a one-month-old baby in which a doctor’s negligence left the baby’s hand dysfunctional. But her parents could not afford the surgery. He was determined to help the baby.</p>.<p class="bodytext">From that <span class="italic">Janmashtami </span>on, Ravi has been dressing up in unique costumes, entertaining people and amassing money to hand it over to ailing children.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He has so far collected around Rs 43 lakh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His costumes/attires every year are themed after aliens and monsters.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Each attire has been designed meticulously for the occasion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dinesh Muttu has been helping Ravi in this task. Still, it isn’t easy. Ravi sometimes uses up to 20 hours to paint his skin and transform into a monster.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When in a costume, Ravi doesn’t eat or sleep. He only sips on water to keep the costume intact.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ravi’s deed has earned him innumerable supporters and friends. Thus, ‘Ravi Friends Katpadi’ is a team that accompanies him every year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A crowdfunding website, MILAAP, was successful in making a documentary about Ravi Katpadi, A Kind-hearted Monster, and collecting Rs 16,80,000. The money was then donated to a few children who needed healthcare. In the first year, his costume got him Rs 1,04,810, with which he supported one child.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Rs 3,65,000 in the second year, his could support four children. The following year, the amount went up to Rs 4,20,000 and reached four children.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His costume this year, The Vampire, has got him around Rs 5 lakh and strengthened him to help seven sick children (from the district and outside) with conditions like liver cancer, blood count problem and brain haemorrhage.</p>.<p class="bodytext">For his deeds, he has been recognised as a role model for youths. He has been felicitated with the Rajyotsava Award in 2017, Yuva Seva Award etc for his work.</p>.<p class="bodytext">About helping others, he says, “Every individual can save a small amount of money and help the poor. The satisfaction and joy in return cannot be explained. To grow in a society is to live a life of humanity and gratification.”</p>