On October 27 the Sadhu Vaswani Mission held its 8th annual Diwali Mela at the Sadhu Vaswani Centre in Pimpri and on October 28 in Pune. This year, Didi Krishna Kumari, Head of the Mission, shared a heartfelt message encouraging the children and parents to focus on three transformative aspects of Diwali: prayer, friendship with all, and love for all.
The event opened with devotional singing, creating a serene atmosphere that set the stage for a day centered around giving. The host added to the warmth with a touching sentiment: “mere zopadi pe Ram aaye”—symbolizing divine presence in the humblest of spaces.
At the Mela, new clothes and footwear were distributed ensuring every man, woman, and child left feeling the spirit of Diwali through gifts that made them feel cherished. Colorful diyas and sweets added festive joy. Each person received a stamp with a smiley face on the back of their palm—a gesture meant to spread a touch of happiness. A five-year-old boy exclaimed, “one hundred smiley stamps would not be enough to explain my happiness after collecting these goodies,” and the stamp became a cherished memento of the day.
The event touched the lives of 500 children, and their 700 parents, bringing the total number of people served to nearly 1300. One child happily shared, “This is the best Diwali shopping experience ever!” Despite not being a typical shopping outing, the day’s joyful atmosphere gave the children and their families a true Diwali experience. Parents, too, were beaming as they witnessed their children’s excitement.
The Mela was the result of weeks of dedicated planning and preparation. Volunteers worked tirelessly, ensuring that every detail—from arranging the items to setting up the space—created a welcoming experience for all. One volunteer expressed, “Seeing the happiness in their eyes, all those tireless weeks of planning and execution seem worth it.”
