Harshini Brahmavar 
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Nov 9: Deepavali, the festival of lights that is celebrated all over India and other parts of the world, is here. We find families busy doing shopping in stores dealing in clothes, home decoration items, crackers, sweets, and such other things. In addition, people also believe that Deepavatli is the auspicious period for bringing home some new items requiring considerable investment. This is a festival in which gods connected with prosperity and riches are believed to be at their benevolent best.

Here is a family that has cultivated the practice of celebrating Deepavali in the company of special children since the last 15 years. This year too, Dendur Doddamane family members celebrated Deepavali festival by bursting fire crackers and playing games with the children of Asha Nilaya Special School here.

Karunakara Shetty is a senior member of this family. He comes to Asha Nilaya along with other members of his family, and gets a sense of elation at the sight of innocent children celebrating the festival with broad smiles and sense of joy writ large on their faces.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Karunakara revealed that his nephew, Akash A Shetty, who happens to be the 18-year-old son of his brother, has been pursuing education at this school since the last 15 years. Karunakara's brother, Appu Shetty, is employed at Kuwait, and has three children. His daughter, Aunpa Shetty, has been pursuing MBBS degree course at Kasturba Medical College Manipal, he said. Appu's son, Akhil Shetty, has completed MSc and now studying for PhD. Akash, last child of Appu, was born with down syndrome. His parents admitted him into Asha Nilaya to help him improve his physical and cognitive abilities, he revealed.

Since then, the family of Karunakara Shetty has made it a practice to visit the school during Deepavali season to share their happiness with the special children there. They spend a day with the children, playing with them, entertaining them, and celebrating the festival.

For the children of Asha Nilaya, the occasion proved to be highly memorable. Dendur Doddamane family also had arranged for a sumptuous meal for everyone, to enable the children to rejoice and celebrate Deepavali to their heart's content.

The children also got thrill and sense of achievement by bursting fire crackers with the assistance of teachers of the school, and their parents. Head teacher of the school, Agnes Hemavati Kundar, and other staff members were present to help the children to celebrate Deepavali in unique way.