Diwali celebrated with 25 families in Gadchiroli's remote Phulgondi village, clothes and sweets distributed

Diwali was celebrated this year with 167 beneficiaries from 25 families in Phulgondi, a remote, tribal-majority and Naxal-affected village in Korchi tehsil of Gadchiroli district. According to information received from Deori, the event was held under the 'Hamari Diwali Vanchiton Ke Liye' initiative, which has now reached its eighth year.

The initiative is run jointly by Dinbandhu Gramin Vikas Sanstha, Deori, Suvarnaprashan Foundation and Mitra Parivar. The idea behind it is that the joy of Diwali should reach the lives of the underprivileged and needy in society too.

At the programme held on Monday, November 9, 2026, families in the village were given new clothes, Diwali snacks and sweets. Schoolchildren were given study material and sports equipment. The organisers' main aim was that while Diwali is being celebrated with great enthusiasm in cities, needy families in far-flung areas should also be able to enjoy the festival.

It did not stop at distributing goods. The organisers celebrated Diwali by spending time with the villagers. The smiles on the children's faces and the contentment of the families won over those present.

Those present included Chichgad police station in-charge Janardhan Hegadkar, block education officer Ganesh Taksale, principal Manoj Bhure, Chichgad medical officer Dr Laxmikant Jatave, village head Premlal Hidami and police patil Vijay Hidami. Prof. Anil Holi conducted the programme and Chetan Uikey delivered the introduction.

The initiative, led by Ayurvedacharya Dr Sunil Samrit, president of Suvarnaprashan Foundation, and Kuldeep Lanjewar, president of Dinbandhu Gramin Vikas Sanstha, with the support of Mitra Parivar, has run continuously for the past seven years. This year was its eighth.

Sandeep Mahobia, Chetak Zanjal, Somaji Aswale, Arvind Shende, Tikaram Matwar, Vinod Chaudhari, Diwakar Shendre, Deepak Lanjewar, Raju Patle, Manohar Bhute, Sharad Samrit, Ranjit Dhamgaye, Lekhram Chandewar, Sanjay Mahobia, Shobhelal Naik, Yograj Sakhare, Kiran Ramteke, Jitendra Walde, Siddhant Shahu, Bhuvanesh Nirwan, Sitesh Ishwar, Manoj Kodape, Suresh Rathi, Sandeep Gupta, Hiteshree Samrit, Kalyani Lanjewar, Pragati Lanjewar and Dimple Samrit gave special help in making the initiative a success.

The organisers' sentiment was that the light of the lamps in one's own home is seen by everyone, but bringing the light of joy into the lives of others is the true Diwali. The initiative, driven by this spirit, conveyed a message of social unity, humanity, cooperation and service.