While the fortunate ones are busy shopping – buying themselves new clothes and crackers for Deepavali – a group of young volunteers here is knocking every door, seeking contributions to enable the less privileged ones enjoy the celebrations.

This is the seventh successive year of such a celebration, says Arun, Chairman of Youth Helping Hands.

An orphan himself, abandoned by his parents on the 3rd day of his birth, Arun, brought up by the Family for Children at Podhanur near here, narrates the plight of such children in this complex world.

“As a youngster, I never got to wear new clothes or buy crackers. I therefore avowed to make this happen for the less privileged sections in the society. I was myself driven out on attaining eighteen years. The initial week was a nightmare, a struggle with no support system to start life afresh. I managed to eke out a living, and over a period of time floated “Youth Helping Hands” – a voluntary group that reaches out to children in various parts of the city, providing for their basic needs.”

“We started organising Diya, an annual event to mark Deepavali celebrations, from 2008. In the early years, there were only about a dozen orphanages in the city. Over the years, the number has shot up to over 65.” Diya 2014 is scheduled to be held at the Bharathiar University auditorium on October 19.

“This year, the event has been planned not just for the orphaned children, but for cancer and HIV-affected children, mentally retarded ones and shelter-less aged people, numbering close to 2,500 in all,” says Arun, stating that this would give such children a glimpse of a life they are not used to.

“Every child will be gifted a bag containing new clothes, books and stationary, a hygiene kit, sweet and dinner,” he said.

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