IAS officer lights up his Diwali with the smiles of 22 orphans.

BENGALURU: On Thursday the residence of Haveri deputy commissioner MV Venkatesh was blooming, as  22 orphans  sparkled up their million-watt smiles as they had joined the Diwali celebrations marked by mirth, light and colour.

The children who were aged between 4 to 15 were the special guests of Venkatesh and his family members, who were keen that the festival instilled positivity for the inmates of several orphan rehabilitation centres.

The children were either abandoned by their parents due to domestic disputes, rescued from violent families or have lost their parents. For many, it was their first Diwali which they were celebrating.

The children landed at the IAS officer's bungalow in Haveri at 1PM. They were taken around the house, which helped them feel a bit comfortable and mingle with his family members.

"I frequently visit orphanages in the district which are under the women and child welfare department. Many of the kids are not fortunate enough to enjoy the joys of childhood. We decided to host them at our house," Venkatesh toldba source.

The officer said it was a fabulous move. "Usually, we celebrate Diwali with our staff and their family members or with locals. To break the monotony, we organised this event, which was emotional for me as well as the children.”

The children were then provided gift hampers which included new clothes, books and sweets. When Venkatesh asked them what they wanted to do in life, some of them said that they wanted to become an officer like him to serve the society.