Aditi Panda
Diwali is a celebration of goodness and the spirit of giving to the less fortunate
Diwali is being celebrated across the country with all glitz and glamour because of the varied flavour of cultural diversities and social uniqueness. It brings out a special feeling of love and bonding in addition to the joy of giving along with it.
The mood of Diwali unifies events, bringing people of different backgrounds, regions, classes together where the only identity that matters is that of a human being who wants to spread the feeling of giving which brings a smile of happiness and satisfaction on every face.
Recently we all celebrated the ‘Daan Utsav’ and ‘Joy of giving’ with lot of zest and Diwali only lengthened that mood of benevolence. Giving unites people across numerous divides like caste, class and gender. Furthermore it brings them together especially to spread the festive spirit and inculcate the habit of sharing and caring.
“Of late, the consideration and feeling of sharing has increased as people have realised that nothing can compensate the heartfelt happiness one feels after spending some quality time with the less privileged. Every year we distribute sweets and crackers among the children living in the slums behind our house. The joy on their faces is our gift and you feel that we are giving them only materialistic pleasure but they are giving us mental happiness” says Anubhav Parija, a student.
Any celebration, especially Diwali the festival of lights is marked in India with great joy and devotion. It commemorates lord Ram’s homecoming after his victory over Ravan. For most Indians it signifies the beginning of the financial New Year which begins by worshipping Laxmi and Ganesh, the gods of wealth and prosperity. People wear new clothes, light earthen lamps and make delicious sweets to celebrate this auspicious day.
“Generally Diwali means lighting lamps, doing pooja and having a good time with friends and family. But since last couple of years the best time during Diwali is colouring lamps with the children from the shelter and then eating with them, followed by singing and dancing. The children are extremely talented and spending quality time with them rejuvenates me to handle stress for the forthcoming months” shares Priti Agarwal who along-with her friends regularly spends time with less privileged children.
Initiatives like the Joy of Giving Week are an attempt to spread the habit of giving, but in India we have a festival or celebration lined up every month. So why wait for some special occasion or festival like Diwali to spread love, joy and the wonderful gesture of giving anything, be it money, gifts or even your time. The aim is only to create an environment of happiness and love which is why we celebrate festivals. This Diwali spread more love by giving, bringing out the real essence of this festivity.
(Aditi is a freelance writer and pursues interest in the area of social issues)
Really it gives a lot of pleasure in spending quality time with the shelter children.
A very great feeling when you feel the joy with them
Truly said… to give something to the less fortunate one should not wait for Diwali. It can be done in several other occasion as well. It gives immense satisfaction which comes from doing small things for someone who need it.
Yes, why wait for festivals. giving and getting happiness out of that feeling is a wonderful feeling
By giving…you are dividing joy but multiplying happiness…very much contrary to a mathematical expression…giving not only nourishes you mentally,psychologically but also nourishes your soul….for it is said that ” in giving,you receive”
Agreeeeeee.you get so much when you give.
If you want to be happy, make others hap’. It’s as simple as that. Real satisfaction can be obtained when one does something selfless. Instead of making the self happy, which most of us aspire to do, doing something; however trivial, will give one immense and lasting satisfaction. Why? That’s the way happiness works. If you chase it, it eludes you. No matter how ardently you seek it,
happiness has a tendency to hoodwink humanity. Those who really are at peace may have given up chasing this chimera and concentrated more on making a difference in some one’s life. Finally what’s more meaningful, a hedonistic and cavalier approach towards life or a balanced one which encourages sharing and caring not only with one’s near and dear ones but also with the less privileged and unfortunate ones. This is what philanthropy is all about and many affluent individuals have turned to dedicating their lives and resources to better the lives of other fellow beings.
Understandably, every one does not possess the wherewithal or the resources to serve mankind but each one of us can share kindness and compassion in accordance to one’s capabilities. This will definitely make our world a better place to live in. After its all about karma. As you sow so shall you reap. What one gives comes back, manifold. So if you make anyone happy, happiness shall follow you. That’s the way the cookie crumbles. Hope all of you had a great diwali. ????
A very different perception but again which tells all to share happiness and get it back.thanks for this interesting penning of your comments
Well written and indeed giving and getting gives joy and contentment