by Prof Bhushan Manchanda
India’s Festival of Lights, Diwali, is an important celebration that is often considered the highlight of India’s festive season. Themes of good vs. evil, appreciation of Indian culture, and most importantly, the experience of giving abundantly marks this occasion.
It is also considered an auspicious time of the year across communities, who use it to organise prayers, large scale spring-cleaning of their homes, and shopping for household items.
Why not from now onwards during the Diwali festival reach out to the less fortunate and extend gifts of charity. This will ensure that the deprived can also afford to have some joy during the festive season, across the communities. It would also give the underprivileged some hope and respite from their mundane lives and motivate them to look forward to a better future.
Supporting the cause of children is a great way to celebrate Diwali. Here are some significant ways you can make the festival memorable for India’s most underprivileged and marginalized demographic, its children.
- Visit your local shelter for the homeless and underprivileged children
Remember, for a homeless child, a shelter is nothing less than a home. Visit their home with gifts and smiles. You must aim to give them joy. Instead of carrying money, carry simple toys, sweets, and maybe useful gifts like pens, notebooks, colouring pencils etc. All this gives them a small bit of their stolen childhood back. - Buy gifts for Children
Many shelters and orphanages regularly organise large ‘Melas’ for the community and sell homemade handicrafts. Buy these, and also vocally appreciate the craftsmanship to motivate the children. - Donate to NGOs
Instead of spending on environmentally harmful crackers (which are often made using child labour) and lavish lighting arrangements at home, donate to recognized charitable Organizations, Orphanages, Schools for Blind children and other such organizations.
Your small contribution would help the under privileged children find some happy and memorable moments in this festive season such that they can hope for a better future.
