Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) and the National Service Scheme (NSS) organised nationwide ‘Diwali Sneh Milan’ celebrations across 153 institutions, recording a total participation of 1,07,494 people as part of the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat 100 Week Sankalp Abhiyan’.
The eighth weekly intervention marked the conclusion of the campaign’s second month and brought together young people, families and community members to promote an addiction-free Diwali through cultural programmes, community gatherings, collective pledges and voluntary service.
The initiative aimed to take the message of substance abuse prevention beyond educational institutions and into homes and neighbourhoods, encouraging families and communities to collectively promote healthy choices and responsible festive celebrations. Activities at the remaining institutions will be conducted after the vacation period.
Nasha Mukt Deepotsav engages over 41,600 people
As part of the ‘Nasha Mukt Deepotsav’, volunteers, community elders and children lit earthen diyas to symbolise the victory of light over the darkness of addiction. The Deepotsav and Sneh Milan gatherings together engaged more than 41,600 participants, using the festive occasion to spread awareness about substance abuse prevention.
Participating institutions also organised street plays or Nukkad Nataks in regional languages, Rangoli-making activities and Nasha Mukt songs. These cultural programmes reached over 24,100 participants and used traditional forms of expression to communicate the importance of avoiding substance abuse and adopting healthy lifestyles.
Nearly 25,000 take pledge for addiction-free Diwali
The collective ‘Addiction-Free Diwali Sankalp’ formed a key part of the celebrations, with nearly 25,000 individuals and family members pledging to celebrate the festival without intoxicants.
The pledge encouraged families to adopt responsible festive practices and support young people in making healthy lifestyle choices.
NSS volunteers combine celebrations with community service
In keeping with the NSS motto, ‘Not Me, But You’, volunteers combined festive celebrations with community service under the campaign’s Seva vertical.
More than 16,700 volunteers visited old-age homes, orphanages, hospitals and slum areas, distributing diyas and sweets. The outreach highlighted the values of compassion, inclusivity and service to society, while extending the spirit of Diwali to vulnerable communities.
Youth volunteers also used digital platforms to amplify the campaign’s message. More than 1,100 social media posts and reels, featuring the mandatory Nukkad Nataks, were uploaded on Instagram using the hashtag #NashaMuktYuva.
Through community participation, cultural activities, family pledges and voluntary service, the nationwide initiative sought to make substance abuse prevention an integral part of festive celebrations and strengthen the broader goal of building an addiction-free youth population for Viksit Bharat.
(PIB)
