IE : For 25 years, this Diwali has thrilled the disabled : Nov 12,2007

ON SATURDAY evening, the open-air auditorium at Amber nath wore a colourful look. It was brimming with people who came in celebrate the festival of lights. “The Apang Anand Diwali celebrations is unique as it is organised to honour the undying spirit of those persons who have overcome their disabilities to lead a normal life,” said Arun Jadhav of Shushrusha, an organisation for the disabled people.

The celebrations are not an event incidental to Diwali of this industrial township situated about 65 km from Mumbai. This event has become a fabric of Ambernath’s culture for the last 25 years. “It is not just the physically challenged who attend the celebrations. The prominent people of Ambernath also grace the occasion. As we have been organising this event for the last 25 years, it has become our town’s Diwali celebration,” said Prashant Khanvilkar, a member of Shushrusha.

Situated on the outskirts of Mumbai are several organisations running centres for the disabled. The Apang Anand Diwali celebrations is an occasion which brings them all together. Shushrusha undertakes transportation of the children with disabilities from their centre to the open-air auditorium at Ambernath.

The itinerary of these celebrations starts with an orchestra followed by the highlight of the programme where the physically challenged take the stage to dance. Besides distribution of sweets and fire-crackers, three-wheeled cycles are donated to the needy people.

“This is the first time that we participated in this event. We had brought seven children with us and we could see that they enjoyed the celebrations very much. Next year, we plan to bring in more children,” said Smita Kirtane, a teacher at the Vikas Mati Mand Vidyalaya, a school for the mentally challenged children at Ulhasnagar

Publication : IE; Section : MN; Pg : 5; Date : 12/11/07