Diwali is just around the corner and while some of us are looking forward to festivities and good times, there are others who can only longingly look at decorated houses filled with sounds of laughter. So, why not spread the holiday light and joy to the less fortunate this year? Even a small good deed can light up someone’s life, and there is no bigger joy than that derived from an act of kindness.
Here are some ideas to help you spend your Diwali in a more thoughtful and responsible manner:
1) For the tech-savvy who have unused gadgets at home, instead of throwing away your devices, donate them to NGOs who will use them to teach the basics of computer operations to underprivileged children in rural areas. Bhumi takes donations of PCs and tablets in Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Pune and Trichy, and if you’re not in these cities, you can use online portal, DonateYourPC.
2) If you would like to donate clothes or household items, Haptik is partnering with e-Daan so that people can easily and effortlessly do so. All you need to do is put your donation in a box, and share your address via Haptik’s app. Your donation will be collected from your doorstep and taken to the NGO.
3) Or, aid others financially in their Diwali Dil-wali efforts.
For instance, ‘Anandha Deepavali’ is a celebration organized for underprivileged and orphaned children by Udhavum Ullangal, an NGO in Chennai. Utilizing donations, they plan a day of entertainment for the kids, filled with performances, sparklers and sweets. You can support this venture by donating here.
Or you can support the efforts of Kshirija Raje. This 13-year old Mumbai girl who buys sweets for slum kids with the money she gets selling quilling objects and handicrafts. “I’m 13 right now and I hope that every Diwali I can add a little more light, and bring a few more smiles,” she says. Help further her cause by shopping at ‘Kshirja’s Creations.’
We hope that you help the spread the light this year. Happy Diwali 2016!
Featured image source: Hello Bhubaneswar
Written by Anisha Kashwani
