Diwali celebrations of a different kind for Ahmedabad's elderly

They may not have a ‘family’ in the conventional sense, but they celebrate the festival of lights with their surrogate families. Elderly people and children who have been abandoned or have left their homes and are now living in old age and observation homes celebrate a festival that brings families together with the people who surround them.

At Jeevan Sandhya, an old age home, Ramaben, an 81-year-old woman, has celebrated her last 11 Diwalis here. With a son who has not visited her in the last 11 years, and a married daughter who lives with her own family, she has little choice. "At home we have so many restrictions, here we are free to do what we want," said Ramabhen.

With rangoli and the bursting of light crackers like sparklers (phuljadi) on their Diwali agenda, the inmates of the old age home have accepted each other as their new family members.

"It's about self dignity. At home the family members say, 'please stay away from the sofa or you will burn it'. Here no one objects to anything," says Farsubhai Kakkad, trustee, Jeevan Sandhya.

Sanyukta Pandya, resident at Jeevan Sandhya and a retired officer of the Urban Development Department, recounts how she was surprised with her first Diwali at the the Home. "I felt embarrassed that people as old as us could celebrate Diwali like this -- like kids."

At the Observation House in Khanpur, children who are brought in from out of state and those who have had a run-in with the law, have accepted the harsh realities of life at an early age. "Mostly we try to create a family like situation in the Observation House," says Mayank Trivedi, superintendent, Observation House.

Children in the age group 6-18 years live here, some waiting to return home. For them this Diwali will have the usual fun, including the rangoli, sweets and of course firecrackers. While 10-year-old Raju is excited about the rockets, others are equally animated about the decorations.

The plan this year is to put up tiny light bulbs across the courtyard with a big star dominating the middle. "The small kids also put up paper decorations," said Trivedi. Yet, with all these plans, the missing element still remains -- the family.  "We might be imprisoned internally but we celebrate Diwali freely. Everything is present except the parents," Balbir, resident of the Observation House said.