Ayudh - Awaken Youth; Unite for Dharma

As Amma says, “Feeding empty stomachs, lighting blown out diyas and bringing out light to those whose lives are in darkness is the true spirit of Diwali”, the AYUDH team indeed lived by this spirit. Diwali, the festival of lights, was special, as the team got an opportunity to celebrate it with some of their special friends (the children of Punarutthan Samarsata Gurukulam and Nachiket Bal Ashram). 

Gurukulam accommodates children whose parents have been branded as criminals and are suspected in thefts, dacoits and murders. Having their huts ransacked by police, they are left homeless. They send their children to Gurukulam so that good values could be inculcated in them and they can outshine in their lives. 

Nachiket Bal Ashram is an orphanage. 

AYUDH had organized a fund-raiser program by setting up stalls for Handicraft and T-Shirt Sales during Amma’s Pune visit in March 2016. The proceedings from the program were utilized for this Diwali celebration with the less fortunate ones.

The team had organized cultural programs which were very well appreciated by the children. They were very enthusiastic and voluntarily came forward to share stories and jokes with their bhaiyyas and didis. Some also danced to the tune of the poems they were taught. Snacks were distributed later along with Diwali sweets. The children later played with fireworks under the guidance of their elders.

 The occasion was indeed heart-warming for all and the organizers. “A lovely day well spent. We left with hearts brimming with love, immersed in the feeling of gratitude, happiness and fulfilment. It was a delight to see the sparkle of joy in the eyes of those children,” shared an AYUDH Member.

“This is a subtle reminder of how fortunate we are… a reminder to ponder upon while we complain about trivial things in our lives,” the member added.