Hope floats on the darkest night

MANIPAL: Aiesec, an organization that aims to promote child rights and to spread the joy of Diwali among Manipal University students, will host 'Light The Night' on Saturday. It also aims at celebrating a cracker free Diwali by launching sky lanterns in the night symbolising a ray of hope for a better tomorrow.
Light the Night is celebrated on the darkest night."In the evening we launch thousands of sky lanterns, fighting for child rights. This is a pressing issue as child labour is rampant in the fireworks industry. Through this event we aim at promoting a better tomorrow, celebrate the festival of lights by spreading happiness and wish for a brighter future for someone," says Siddharth Gupta, an organising committee member of Light the Night.
While spreading awareness, they also take an initiative towards a cracker free Diwali targeting over three thousand people. It is a spectacular alternative keeping in mind the festival of lights and can therefore be enjoyed by all, he says.
Siddharth says, Light the Night is one of the biggest events in Manipal. Over 2,000 people turned up at End Poiny to buy lanterns. What makes it even bigger is the cause for which this event is done. Thousands of people come together to celebrate one of the most important festivals, Diwali.
"What makes it beautiful is the sight when you see so many lanterns in the sky doing justice to the festival which is called the festival of lights and happiness," he feels.
However the event in Manipal was one of the most successful of all the events across the nation. A crowd of around 1800 people turned up at end point to buy lanterns to celebrate Diwali in a safe, peaceful and visually beautiful way. It also Aiesec's best event in terms of attendance, says Siddharth.
Even foreign students join in in the Diwali celebrations and promote child rights, said Shraddha Ganesh, organising committee president.