A heartwarming Diwali celebration has brought home the need for kindness, compassion and supporting children who have been through difficult times.
Continuing an annual tradition a family invited children from Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district both their parents had died due to COVID-19 pandemic to celebrate Diwali together at their home.
The celebration was not just about lighting lamps and eating festive meals. It was an opportunity to bring happiness into the lives of children who had lost so much personal joy at a very young age the whole family sat together with the children, ate together and celebrated festival of lights in a warm welcoming atmosphere.
The family also spent time with the children asking about their education, personal development and progress in life. Their happiness and seeing them grow with confidence was so satisfying.
The initiative started around four or five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many children were losing both parents at that time. Moved by their situation the family decided to take responsibility for these children and help them build a better future.
Since then we have been trying to help them with what they need for their education and development. We wanted the children to be encouraged, to have opportunities in life after all the hardship they had gone through.
Meeting the children every year and seeing them grow up has become a family tradition. Seeing them growing up with smiles on their faces, happiness in their hearts and dreams in their eyes has given peace and fulfilment.
ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷದಂತೆ ಈ ಬಾರಿಯೂ ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಮಹಾಮಾರಿಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ತಂದೆ-ತಾಯಿ ಇಬ್ಬರನ್ನೂ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡ ಚಿಕ್ಕಬಳ್ಳಾಪುರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಗೆ ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸಿ, ಕುಟುಂಬದವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಅವರ ಜೊತೆ ಕುಳಿತು ಊಟ ಮಾಡಿ ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಸಂತೋಷವನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಂಡೆವು. ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೆಲ ಹೊತ್ತು ಕಳೆದು, ಅವರ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಂಡು, ಅವರ ಸಂತೋಷದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಖುಷಿ ನೀಡಿತು. ನಾಲ್ಕೈದು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಮಹಾಮಾರಿಯ ಕರಾಳ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ತಂದೆ-ತಾಯಿ ಇಬ್ಬರನ್ನೂ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡಾಗ, ಅವರ ಬದುಕಿಗೆ ನನ್ನಿಂದಾದಷ್ಟು ಆಸರೆಯಾಗಬೇಕು ಎಂಬ ಭಾವನೆಯಿಂದ ಅವರ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ವಹಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಿದ್ದೆ. ಅಂದಿನಿಂದ ಅವರ ವಿದ್ಯಾಭ್ಯಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗೆ ಅಗತ್ಯವಾದ ನೆರವು ನೀಡುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಅಂದು ಕಷ್ಟದ ದಿನಗಳನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಇಂದು ನಗುಮುಖದಿಂದ, ಸಂತೋಷವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡುವಾಗ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿ ಆಯಿತು. ಅವರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿನ ನಗು, ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲಿನ ಕನಸುಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ, ನಾವು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸಣ್ಣ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವೂ ಅವರ ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಷ್ಟು ಬದಲಾವಣೆ ತರಲು ನೆರವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ತೃಪ್ತಿ ಮೂಡಿತು. ನನ್ನ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ ದೀಪಾವಳಿಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ ಇಂತಹ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂತೋಷದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಜನರನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದು, ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದಷ್ಟು ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರ ಬದುಕಿಗೆ ಬೆಳಕಾಗುವುದು ಮತ್ತು ಅವರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ನಗು ಮೂಡಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಂತೋಷ ಮತ್ತೊಂದಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಓದಿ, ತಮ್ಮ ಕನಸುಗಳನ್ನು ನನಸಾಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೇರಲಿ. ಅವರ ಭವಿಷ್ಯ ಉಜ್ವಲವಾಗಿರಲಿ, ಬದುಕು ಸದಾ ಸಂತೋಷದಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿರಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಅವರ ಮುಖದ ಮೇಲಿನ ನಗುವೇ ನನಗೆ ಈ ದೀಪಾವಳಿಯ ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ.🪔 #Deepavali
— Dr Sudhakar K (@DrSudhakar_) November 9, 2026
The Diwali gathering also reminded us that festivals are more special when people share happiness with each other. Many families light up their homes, bake sweets and celebrate the occasion but if they can also reach out to those who need warmth and support then it makes the festival even more special for them too.
The family said the greatest satisfaction comes from making a difference in someone else’s life, even if it is small. Bringing happiness to children who have had difficult times and giving them reasons to smile that is one of the most valuable ways to celebrate Diwali according to the family.
They also wished the children success in their studies and hoped that they would achieve their ambitions, build successful careers and reach respectable positions in society.
The celebration had a simple but powerful message: Diwali is not just about lights in homes. It’s also about bringing light into the lives of people around us.
For the family, the smiles of these children are still the biggest gift and greatest happiness of this Diwali. Their journey is proof that compassion, support and a little kindness can change someone’s life forever.
Comments