16th Year of Anantha Deepavali: Spreading the Joy of Deepavali with 1,000 Children
- Category: SERVICES
- Date 12-10-2025
The 16th Year of Anantha Deepavali, an annual initiative of AUM Education Seva Trust, was celebrated on 12 October 2025 at Dr. Ramakrishna Kalyana Mandapam, Tiruninravur – 602024.
Continuing its tradition of sharing the joy of Deepavali with children who may otherwise have limited opportunities to celebrate the festival, the initiative brought festive happiness to 1,000 children from nearby tribal villages, orphanages, and underprivileged students from Government schools.
The celebration was centered on the true spirit of Deepavali — sharing, caring, and bringing light into the lives of others. The children received new clothes, sweets, and other essential items to help them celebrate the festival with happiness and dignity, while also experiencing the traditional flavour and warmth of Deepavali.
From 197 Children to 1,000: A Journey of Giving
Anantha Deepavali began in 2010 as a modest initiative that benefited 197 children. Over the years, the celebration has continued to grow, reaching more children and extending the spirit of giving to different communities.
The journey of Anantha Deepavali has touched the lives of thousands of children:
2010: 197 children
2011: 300 children
2012: 365 children
2013: 500 children
2014: 480 children
2015: 550 children
2016: 600 children
2017: 650 children
2018: 1,000 children across two locations
2019: 700 children
2020: 300 children during the Covid-19 pandemic
2021: 700 children
2022: 950 children
2023: 950 children
2024: 970 students
2025: 1,000 children
The growth of Anantha Deepavali reflects the continued efforts of AUM Education Seva Trust, its volunteers, supporters, and donors, whose contributions have helped sustain this celebration year after year.
Celebrating Deepavali Beyond Boundaries
Deepavali is a festival associated with light, happiness, family, and togetherness. Yet, for many children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, celebrating the festival with new clothes, sweets, and other essentials may not always be possible.
Anantha Deepavali seeks to bridge that gap by bringing the celebration to children from tribal communities, orphanages, and Government schools. More than simply distributing gifts, the initiative creates an opportunity for these children to experience the excitement and happiness that the festival represents.
The 2025 celebration continued this tradition by bringing together 1,000 children for a day filled with sharing, warmth, and festive spirit.
Honouring the Spirit of Service
Over the years, Anantha Deepavali has also been supported by distinguished guests who have joined the Trust in celebrating the children and distributing Deepavali gifts.
The celebrations have had the privilege of welcoming Mr. S. V. Sekar in 2023, Shri Poovilangu Mohan in 2024, and Shri Kannan Ponnaiah in 2025, who presided over the respective celebrations and distributed Deepavali gifts to the children.
Their participation has added significance to an initiative built around a simple but meaningful message: the joy of a festival becomes greater when it is shared with others.
A Tradition of Light, Love and Giving
From 197 children in its first year to 1,000 children in 2025, Anantha Deepavali has grown steadily while remaining rooted in its original purpose — to share the happiness of Deepavali with children who deserve to experience the festival with joy and dignity.
The 16th year of Anantha Deepavali stands as another chapter in this continuing journey of service. Through every gift shared, every smile created, and every child included in the celebration, the initiative carries forward the timeless message of Deepavali: where there is light, there is hope; where there is sharing, there is happiness.
AUM Education Seva Trust continues its journey of lighting up lives, one Deepavali at a time.