The SECRET of HAPPINESS!

Visiting an orphanage increases the value of life. How bright is our life yet we are deprived! How dark are their nights yet they are satisfied! The students of Podar International School, Nashik are lucky to get an opportunity to visit an Orphanage named ‘Ashirwad Seva Dham’, near Trimbakeshwar on 29th October, 2021. Principal Mr. Manohar Mahajan with the Vice Principal, Ms. Tanushree Mitra along with other teachers accompanied by a few Students Council members visited the orphanage. 

Life presented another side of it to us on that day! We all found ourselves introvert and thanked God for this life!. I clearly remember everything being super excited for the visit as I was visiting an orphanage after ages. Visiting here made me understand the joy of sharing and making others happy.

When we reached there, we first went to the main office where we all talked to the principal (head) and came to know about this orphanage. I remember, when I was sitting there, I had a glance at the TV, where I saw a slideshow of pics of the girls who stayed there. I saw the pics of people celebrating birthdays or festivals, i.e, Diwali, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc, which was so adorable.

The next thing I did was to go and visit those beautiful girls. The thing that made me more attracted to this place was the positive atmosphere and specially, the smiles on the faces of those children. I remember, I distributed the gifts which the students of our school had prepared. When the gifts were being distributed, they all were so happy and had this big smile on their faces. That time, I had this thought that when someone gives us a gift, sometimes we act like we are happy yet we are not, but in the orphanage, when we gave those children the gifts, they were so happy that I could get it from their faces, even with this little amount we tried to do for them. They were so satisfied with them. This thing made me realise that no matter what the gift is, big or small, we should always be happy and grateful for it as it is not only an object but also the love and the blessing that someone gives it to us. Coming here not only taught me many things but also made me realise how fortunate I’m to have a family.

The orphanage doesn't call the place ‘anath ashram’ as it doesn’t feel like the children there are orphan, that’s why they call it Bal Sadan, a house of children. The organizers are educating the girls as well as teaching them everything that our parents do for us. All the children are well disciplined and well mannered. They have the computer facility and even a TV room where they have their Movie Day.

After coming from there, I thanked God for giving me everything, gifts, branded dresses, and most importantly, a family!

I think that everyone should visit an orphanage and see those beautiful angels who are thirsty for our love. Let's all try to do something for them. Such visits give a new meaning to our lives and teach us many things. It is also a way to show our love and affection for these beautiful kids.

Miss Adrika Roy (X-A)