At old age homes, festival cheer intensifies loneliness

AHMEDABAD: For 71-year-old Kanchan Makwana, a resident of a city-based old age home, Diwali is just another day. "What could I possibly do? Wake up, pray at a temple, eat and rest," she said. "Without my family, what difference would it make on the day of a festival?" On Diwali, everyone looks forward to celebrating the day with loved ones. However, the elderly at the city's old age homes do nothing but wait for a glimpse of their kin; they stare blankly at the gates.Sadly for some, the wait stretches for hours, days, and even months. Like every year, around 175 senior citizens staying at Jeevan Sandhya old age home will celebrate the festival inside the home.
"Rangolis and decorations make us realize that it is Diwali," said 89-year-old Sanyukta Pandya. "I have been staying here for 20 years and now I am used to spending the day with other residents here, sharing how we used to celebrate this festival."
Only two senior citizens of Jeevan Sandhya will stay with their families for a few days, said an official of the home. The story is no different for widowed women putting up at the Matrugruh in Paldi. "Diwali is like any other day for them," said Bharti Patel, who works at the Matrugruh. "Forget taking them home, there is hardly anyone who even bothers to meet them."