Bharat Vikas Parishad’s Panvel chapter is sending 18,000 boxes containing approximately 14 tonnes of traditional Maharashtrian Diwali faral to soldiers deployed at remote military bases and border locations across India under its annual ‘Sainik Ho Tumchya Sathi’ initiative.
Launched in 2020, the initiative seeks to express gratitude to soldiers who guard the country’s borders and protect its citizens, often in extreme weather, difficult terrain and challenging circumstances. With many personnel unable to celebrate Diwali with their families, the initiative aims to bring them a taste of the festival and remind them that their service is remembered by people back home.
Jyoti Kanitkar, project head of the initiative, said 15,000 boxes had already been dispatched, with the remaining 3,000 scheduled to be sent the following week.
From 14,000 laddoos to 14 tonnes of faral
The initiative began with 14,000 laddoos in 2020 and has grown into a large-scale community effort. In 2025, the Panvel chapter sent approximately 16,020 boxes containing around 11 tonnes of Diwali faral to serving personnel.
This year, the target has increased to 18,000 boxes, with the total quantity expected to reach approximately 14 tonnes. The expansion reflects sustained public participation, financial contributions from donors and the efforts of volunteers who help prepare and pack the consignments.
Traditional Maharashtrian delicacies and festive greetings
The boxes contain traditional Diwali delicacies, including laddoos, chivda, chakli, sev and shankarpali. The snacks are packed for distribution to soldiers, accompanied by greeting cards conveying Diwali wishes, affection and gratitude.
The consignments reach personnel stationed in locations including Bhuj, Bikaner, Barmer, various border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Leh, Siachen, Guwahati and Tawang. By carrying familiar festive treats and personal messages, the initiative seeks to give soldiers serving far from home a connection with the celebrations taking place across the country.
A collective effort involving the community
The initiative is sustained by the participation of residents, financial donors, suppliers, volunteers and office-bearers and members of Bharat Vikas Parishad’s Panvel chapter.
Suppliers contribute by ensuring that good-quality faral is made available in time, while hundreds of citizens, including people of different age groups, enthusiastically participate in packing the boxes. The financial support of donors and the collective efforts of volunteers are central to the organisation’s ability to prepare and dispatch thousands of boxes.
The initiative is therefore not merely about sending festive snacks. It represents a community effort to strengthen the emotional bond between soldiers and civilians, expressing appreciation for the sacrifices made by personnel who remain on duty while the rest of the country celebrates.
Kanitkar expressed gratitude to all those who have supported the campaign, acknowledging the contributions of donors, suppliers, volunteers, residents and the organisation’s members.
Carrying a message of gratitude beyond Diwali
‘Sainik Ho Tumchya Sathi’ reflects the values of patriotism, mutual trust and respect for those serving the nation. Through the participation of people from different sections of society, the initiative demonstrates how a collective effort can convey a meaningful message of solidarity to soldiers stationed in distant and demanding locations.
For the personnel receiving the boxes, the traditional faral and greeting cards serve as reminders that, even when separated from their families during the festival, they remain in the thoughts and hearts of fellow citizens.
Bharat Vikas Parishad’s Panvel chapter has expressed its gratitude to everyone whose contribution has helped sustain and expand the initiative over the years.
Source: This is an original story, with some references drawn from the story “Diwali faral carries Panvel’s love to soldiers on the borders”, published in Newsband,
