Young minds,large hearts

The ‘Vande Mataram Group’ and ‘Rashtra Bhakt Yuva Manch’ have more than 200 volunteers from various city colleges like S P College,Pune Vidyarthi Gruha (PVG College),Jedhe College and Saraswati Vidya Mandir College. For the last six years,they have been conducting the ‘Krutdnyta Dipawali’ programme. “The main idea behind this programme is to show our gratitude to the people who are the reason behind a safe and sound Diwali celebration. These people include those who work at Pune Muncipal Corporation,MSEB workers,Fire Brigade jawans and postmen,” says Vaibhav Wagh,state president of Vande Mataram Group. ‘Krutdnyta Dipawali’ is organised on the Sunday after Diwali. “This cultural programme recognises and appreciates their work. It’s a tribute to them as they serve us every day and night. Every year,we felicitate them on this day. This year too will be the same. Only the venue has to be finalised,” Wagh adds.

Another activity that the volunteers look forward to every year is their visit to Shrivatsa Orphanage at Sassoon Hospital,Maharshi Karve Shikshan Sanstha’s Orphanage for Girls at Karve Road and the Matoshree Old Age Home at Sinhgad Road. Wagh adds,“We conduct the two programmes in order to spread as much happiness as we can to these people. It’s a way of making Diwali special for them as well as for us.”

Praneet Barve,a student volunteer from S P College,adds,“At Shrivatsa Orphanage,a Diwali fort is built by us. Also,clothes,fire crackers and sweets are distributed to the children. On the day of Diwali,we go to the orphanage at dawn to do abhyangsnan for the children.” After the ritual,these students spend the whole day playing with the children,bursting crackers,eating with them and other such activities. “Also,at Maharshi Karve Shikshan Sanstha’s Orphanage for Girls,a special Bhau Bhij programme is conducted by us,” he reveals.

For Aniket Deshmukh of PVG College,visiting the Matoshree Old Age Home every year is a very touching experience. “Spending time with the elderly people there during this festival fills us with renewed energy. They just want someone to talk to them so that they can express their feelings. I really look forward to this programme,” he says.