Children who sell flags, flowers, balloons and other goods at Pune’s traffic junctions took part in a Diwali celebration at Goodluck Chowk on Wednesday, as former Pune Deputy Mayor Aba Bagul and the Aba Bagul Mitra Parivar continued their initiative for the 21st consecutive year.
The event was organised for children who work on the city’s streets and may otherwise be unable to participate in traditional Diwali celebrations because of financial difficulties. The children were given an Abhyanga Snan, a traditional oil-bath ritual, using fragrant bathing powder, Moti soap and warm water.
They also received new clothes and were given an opportunity to celebrate Diwali by bursting firecrackers. The organisers said the programme was intended to bring the festival’s rituals and sense of togetherness to children who spend their days selling goods at traffic junctions to support their families.
Children selling balloons, flags and other items are a familiar sight at various junctions across Pune. According to the account of the initiative, many of them work throughout the day and contribute to their families’ livelihoods. The annual celebration has continued without a break for 21 years, with the group providing traditional festivities, clothing and a shared celebration during Diwali.
Speaking at the event, Bagul said the group had been celebrating Diwali with children who sell goods on the streets and live with their families for the past 21 years. He said giving them the opportunity to take part in an Abhyanga Snan, wear new clothes and enjoy firecrackers brought the organisers satisfaction.
Bagul also said that the initiative should not end with a festival celebration. He drew attention to the wider needs of children from financially disadvantaged families, including education, healthcare and other basic requirements. He appealed to capable citizens to come forward and take responsibility for supporting such children.
The event places a recurring community intervention alongside a visible urban reality: children working in public spaces to help their families earn a livelihood. While the celebration provides a day of festive participation, the organisers’ own remarks point to the longer-term issues faced by children whose daily lives are shaped by household financial pressures.
The Aba Bagul Mitra Parivar said the central objective of the 21-year initiative was to ensure that Diwali reached children from disadvantaged sections of society and allowed them to experience the warmth and happiness associated with the festival. The group’s appeal for continued support focused on education, healthcare and the children’s opportunity to live with dignity and confidence.
