By C V Joseph
Bengaluru: A Salesian parish under the Archdiocese of Bangalore has celebrated the Children’s Day with children of migrants, fortune tellers and slum dwellers.
“November 14 which is celebrated as the Children’s Day all over the country could be just yet another ordinary day for many poor children. But it was not so for the migrant children here,” said Salesian Father Aloysius Santiago, pastor of Don Bosco Church in Lingarajapuram, a northern suburb of Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka state.
The priest told Matters India that the parish tried to make the day “extraordinary” for migrants from Karnataka’s Bellary and Gulbarga districts, fortune tellers from Tamil Nadu and residents of Janakiram Layout near Lingarajpuram.
The parish was supported by Rotary Kalyan, BREADS (Bangalore Rural Educational And Development Society), HUG (Humane Universal Good) Deed Network and Rahul Malhotra, a teenager.
The Don Bosco Youth Group led by Father Santiago organized the celebrations in two phases: one in a migrant colony near Kachakaranahalli and the other in Maruti School, both within the city.
In Kachakaranahalli, around 100 children joined the celebrations. The parish team divided the children into four teams and conducted some games for them. The parish also taught some action-songs. The children used the occasion to showcase their talents in singing and mimicry.
The program ended with the organizers serving the children lunch, sweets and prizes.
Some 100 children joined similar programs at the Maruti School in Janakiram Layout.
Father Santiago said the parish could offer the children a memorable day because of the “generous help” from Rotary Kalyan that sponsored refreshments, crayons stationery items from BREADS and food items and sparklers from HUG.
The parish took note of the sacrifice and generosity of Rahul Malhotra, who shared his birthday celebration money for the children of the migrants. “The kind gesture of Rahul is such an inspiration for others,” the priest added.