Games, swings, dance competitions and Christmas gifts from Santa Claus. Over 500 children from Delhi’s slums and orphanages had a gala time as they celebrated an early Christmas here Saturday.
Organised by Delhi-based NGO Child, You and Me (CYM) network with its partner NGOs, the fifth edition of the Christmas Carnival was held at Jangpura Saturday morning till evening. Over 20 NGOs participated in it.
Thrilled children who were obviously spoilt for choice ran between swings and the games stall, while the girls thronged the mehendi (henna) stall.
“I love mehendi and I was so happy to see this stall here,” said 12-year-old Prema Kumari, who came from a slum cluster in north Delhi’s Bawana and had got a floral pattern designed on her palm.
Rahul Chauhan, 13, who is HIV positive, just couldn’t get enough of the swings.
“This is my second time in this carnival and I am having a lot of fun,” he said as he waited in queue to savour another ride on one of the swings.
Meanwhile, a lavish feast had been cooked for the children.
The carnival ended at around 4 p.m. with the children getting Christmas presents.
“Faber Castell has made a special offer to us for the gifts for every child,” Jim De, coordinator of CYM, told IANS.