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Tag: Happy Diwali 2024

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Celebrating Diwali 2024 with Compassion

Donate for Diwali Celebration

Diwali is no more just an Indian festival, but a time of rejoicing good over evil. From Hollywood sitcoms depicting Diwali celebrations to Pennsylvania declaring Diwali as a national holiday, the festival of lights has been recognised as a special moment of spending time with friends and family, welcoming warmth and embracing the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.  A five-day celebration, filled with prayers, sumptuous feasts, spectacular fireworks, and acts of charity, Diwali 2024 shall mark new beginnings for many. 

हर इक मकान में जला फिर दिया दिवाली का
हर इक तरफ को उजाला हुआ दिवाली का
सभी के दिल में समान भा गया दिवाली का
किसी के दिल को मजा खुश लगा दीवाली का
अजब बहार का है दिन बना दिवाली का

Nazeer Akbarabadi, Urdu Poet

The Essence of Diwali

Diwali’s essence is beautifully captured in its name, derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali‘ which translates to ‘row of lights’. These lights are none other than the radiant clay lamps or diyas that adorn homes during the festival.

The timing of Diwali is determined by the Hindu lunar calendar, marking the new moon between the Hindu months of Asvina and Kartika. This typically falls in October or November in the Gregorian calendar. In 2024, Diwali will be celebrated on November 1.

Legends of Diwali

Diwali is a festival rich in legends, its significance evolving across different regions and communities. Its central theme, however, resonates with the triumph of good over evil. While its legends vary, they all reflect this common thread.

In Northern India, Diwali commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and the rescue of his beloved wife, Sita from the demon king Ravana. In South India, the festival pays homage to the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura, who had held 16,000 women captive. Western parts of India celebrate the banishment of King Bali to the underworld by Lord Vishnu.

Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, three of the many minority religions in India, each have their unique Diwali stories.

For Sikhs, a faith that originated in the late 15th century as a movement within Hinduism, with a strong devotion to Vishnu, Diwali is a time to commemorate the release of the 17th-century Guru Hargobind.

Jains, with their ancient roots dating back to the middle of the first century B.C. and shared beliefs with Hinduism, observe Diwali as a momentous day when Lord Mahavira, the final great Jain teacher, attained nirvana.

Buddhists, whose faith emerged in the late 6th century B.C. as a response to Hinduism, celebrate Diwali as the day when Hindu Emperor Ashoka, who reigned during the third century B.C., embraced Buddhism.

Beyond these stories, Diwali also symbolizes the celebration of the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi. In ancient India, Diwali aligned with the final harvest before winter, making it a time to beseech Lakshmi for good fortune. In the present day, Indian businesses continue to mark Diwali as the commencement of the financial new year.

Sharing Kindness During Diwali

As Diwali approaches, it is not just about lighting lamps but also about kindling the light of kindness. Here’s how we can make this festival even more special

Extend a Helping Hand: Diwali is a time of abundance. Extend your generosity to those in need, contributing to organizations like Smile Foundation that work tirelessly to make a positive impact.

Eco-Friendly Celebrations: Let’s celebrate in harmony with nature. Opt for eco-friendly decorations and minimize waste generation with sustainable practices.

Consider Our Animal Friends: The noise from fireworks can distress animals. Let’s make an effort to reduce the impact and care for stray animals in our communities.

Embrace Inclusivity: Diwali is a celebration of unity. Invite friends and neighbors from diverse backgrounds to share the joy.

Homemade Delights: Prepare traditional sweets at home and share them with loved ones. It’s a heartwarming gesture that spreads joy.

Diwali 2024: Do Good, Be Good

In a world where darkness often prevails, Diwali is a reminder that the light within us can overcome any shadow. As we celebrate, let’s think of those who need our support. Your kindness can make Diwali 2024 truly memorable, light up lives and spread the warmth all around. You can make a small donation here and gift education to children who come from very difficult circumstances and for whom education is the only way to change their lives positively.

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Smile

Diwali 2024– Significance of the Festival of Light and Love

Happy Diwali 2024

Like each year, this Diwali 2024, the festival of lights, will be celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. It embodies the spirit of embracing goodness and leaving behind qualities that hinder our growth as better human beings, such as arrogance and malice. Rich with stories and meanings, Diwali reminds us that we are inherently made for love and compassion. Negative traits like selfishness and unkindness have fleeting lives; ultimately, empathy and kindness prevail.

The tales of Diwali, such as the rebirth of Lakshmi during the Great Churning—Samudra Manthan—and the return of Lord Rama after vanquishing Raavan, serve as powerful reminders that our world thrives on humility. They inspire us to uphold the belief that every individual, regardless of their background, deserves respect and dignity.

This Diwali 2024, let us draw inspiration from our cherished folklores and commit ourselves to doing good. Together, we can enhance the world for both ourselves and those around us. Let’s focus on improving the lives of children in at-risk neighbourhoods. What better occasion than Diwali to express our care and affection for the most vulnerable among us? This is the perfect moment to sponsor a child, transforming not only their life but also the communities they belong to. Let’s make a meaningful impact on a child’s wellbeing this Diwali 2024.

Here are 4 ways that your Diwali festival donations will improve the lives of young people from low-income families:

Education

We want our children to go to the best schools and universities, don’t we? We want them to dream big and achieve bigger things in their lives. That is why it is crucial to make sure that children have access to a high-quality education. Easy access to schools designed with children in mind is most desirable. Children must be transformed if society is to undergo the change we desire. 

Donating to a child’s education helps them learn not just how to read, write, and count, but also ideals that can contribute to the creation of a more compassionate society. Education helps a kid become a responsible, proactive and creative individual who makes positive and significant contributions. A youngster has the potential to improve the world when they are educated and act in line with their ambitions of helping the society and humanity as a whole.

Protection

Too many kids might be subjected to violence, injustice, or both. It is impossible to understand the mental anguish endured by children who are at danger and children who have survived. We are aware of situations in which families have rejected children who have survived abuse and violence.

The urgent interventions you will fund have child protection at their top of the list. With your help, community-based monitoring of children at risk for child marriage and trafficking will be established, and the government’s child protection mechanisms, including schools, will be resolutely encouraged to take a proactive approach to protecting children. 

You will actively contribute towards the formation of youth collectives that will take part in local decision-making processes and solve problems that affect them all. Both as an individual and as a nation, children are our future. Your contribution will aid in establishing a secure environment for kids.

Hygiene and Health

Among India, malnutrition ranks as one of the leading causes of mortality in children under the age of five. That’s heartbreaking. Although significant progress has been achieved in lowering mortality caused by starvation, much more needs to be done. The situation is still critical in many jurisdictions, particularly for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Malnutrition and health are serious problems that require community-based interventions in order to improve capacity for outreach. When you sponsor a kid, you lend your support to community-based initiatives that aid in the child’s healthy growth and development. Through your donation, hunger cases will receive priority attention and children in at-risk areas will have access to nutritious mid-day meals in schools.

A Fresh Outlook and Fresh Goals!

A powerful mental state that fosters happiness toward everything is hope. Donations provide children in at-risk areas with the hope for a better life and the aspirations of a better future. Your contribution not only changes the lives of the kid you sponsor, but also the lives of their families and communities. 

With your help, we can become more sensitive to the need to safeguard and nurture children, more supportive of one another, and more equipped to claim their legally protected rights and take advantage of government benefits. As a result, the community’s joint efforts with your help will bring about genuine change on the ground.

Celebrate Diwali 2024 differently this year by going above and beyond for underprivileged youngsters. Make a little gift to enable them to smile and make their lives happier. The satisfaction of enhancing young people’s lives will be unmatched. You can donate for child education and youth livelihood with the Smile Foundation and make their Diwali super special. It takes willpower and a little courage to do so much more! 

This Diwali,

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

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Smile

Diwali Celebration 2024- Ways to Celebrate the Festival of Lights

Diwali Celebration 2022- Ways to Celebrate the Festival of Lights

Diwali-the festival of lights is around the corner. Preparations are in full swing! Houses, shops, offices, are being cleaned, de-cluttered and made anew for the festivities. People are busy shopping for clothes and gifts of value. The air is filled with excitement and festive fragrance. After a lull of 2 years caused by the pandemic, Diwali Celebration 2024 deserves to be special.

Observed on Amavasya (new moon day) in the lunar month of Kartik, Diwali is one of the most popular Indian festivals which symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali reminds us that when we collectively light the diyas, we transform a dark night into the brightest and happiest one.

This Diwali, let’s celebrate this symbolism. Let’s be the torchbearer to dispel the darkness of illiteracy, poverty, hunger, unemployment, pollution or any such evil that threatens our society and planet.

Here are 7 ways to make your Diwali celebration 2024 unique:

Donate on Diwali for a Child’s education
Donate for a Mid-Day Meal
Donate Used/New Festive Clothes
Be a Green Warrior
Support Local Vendors and Small Businesses
Spend your Diwali at an Orphanage/Old Age Home
Show Gratitude to Your Helpers

1. Donate on Diwali for a Child’s education

Diwali is a time when most of you are on a shopping spree to refresh your wardrobe, upgrade your home appliances, redo the interiors of your house and cheer your friends with lovely gifts. However, not everyone is fortunate to have such a dazzling Diwali.

There are hundreds of poor and marginalized kids who are longing for one such special day in their life. This Diwali, be the light in someone’s life. Donate generously for education– fees, stationary items, uniforms and additional study material for the ones who cannot afford it by themselves.

2. Donate for a Mid-Day Meal

Diwali is a time to cook up a feast. Friends and family bond together over elaborate spreads. But for many poor, hungry and orphaned kids, the Diwali feast is only a distant dream. You can donate for a delicious mid-day meal for such kids and make their Diwali special for there is no greater happiness than watching a kid enjoy his/her food.

3. Donate Used/New Festive Clothes

Festive time is always about looking fabulous. Festive wears are special but the fact is, post festive season they are not used much and very soon kids outgrow these beautiful outfits. So if you have a bunch of such unused festive wears just sitting in a corner of your wardrobe, this Diwali, please donate them to charity. Believe us, your ‘no-longer used festive wear’ is a luxury wear for someone else.

It’s also possible for you to buy new clothes for the children in low-income groups. Just imagine their eyes sparkling in happiness when they try on their new outfits! There are only a few things in life more precious than a child’s innocent smile.

4. Be a Green Warrior

It is never too late to make your contributions to protect and preserve mother earth and what better occasion than Diwali which marks good beginnings! So this Diwali 2024, pledge to celebrate in an eco-friendly way. Sensitize your family, friends, people in your apartment area, neighborhood or locality to celebrate more with diyas, rangoli, sweets & food and less with crackers.

It would also be an excellent idea to locate a suitable area, maybe in your apartment complex or neighborhood park and plant a couple of saplings. You can also motivate others to do so. Post your ideas on your social media pages and start a green movement.

5. Support Local Vendors and Small Businesses

 

Your Diwali shopping is a source of livelihood for many. Be it handmade earthen diyas, flowers or other décor items, please make it a point to buy from local markets and street-side vendors because they do not sell for profits rather to make ends meet. So please support their business by spending money on their items. This way you’ll not just bring home some beautiful products but also a sense of satisfaction from making a positive difference in someone’s life.

6. Spend your Diwali at an Orphanage/Old Age Home

Diwali is a time when the entire extended family comes together to celebrate. This Diwali extend your love and affection to those less fortunate kids and aged people who crave for the emotional blanket of a family. Visit an orphanage/children’s home or an old age home and celebrate with them. Engage with them in decorating their place, cook together a delicious lunch, surprise them with some unforgettable gifts, sing, dance and make it a memorable Diwali for them and yourself.

7. Show  Gratitude to Your Helpers

There are a lot of people who have an immense contribution in the smooth functioning of your daily life. Your domestic help, driver, liftman, building watchman, gardener, all these people toil hard every day to serve you. Diwali is an excellent time to express your gratitude for the services they offer.

As the saying goes, ‘Charity begins at home’, these are the people you should first reach out with your love and generosity. Hand them out a Diwali bonus or gift them something useful for their home or invite their family to join in your Diwali celebrations if they are willing.

If you are an apartment society resident, you can even float the idea to create a corpus fund for Diwali Festival donations and mobilize funds from like-minded people in your apartment complex to be used for the benefit of the helpers in your society.

Diwali is a time for fun, frolic and festivities. You might be amazed that a small contribution or a simple gesture from you can make a world of difference to someone. This Diwali, share your festivities with others because there is no greater joy than the ‘joy of sharing’.

Everyday kindness is in no way a small feat but on special occasions, special efforts must be made to make a difference that truly lasts. Make Diwali celebration 2024 special for the disadvantaged children. Make a difference now!

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