"I enjoyed swimming and eating vada pao during our trip to Konkan," says 12-year-old Shubham. The youngster was among the 26 HIV-affected children who were taken for a day-long trip to Dive Agar beach in Konkan by the Mamata Foundation, Bibvewadi and the MS Virdhi Foundation. The Konkan trip for the children aged three to 15 was organised as part of Diwali celebration.

Vishal Ovhal, who is associated with Virdhi Foundation, said the objective behind organising the trip was to spread cheer among the children who have been affected by the dreaded ailment. "There was not one moment of boredom. Right from Pune to Konkan which is five and half hours trip, the children enjoyed themselves. Nobody was homesick. They wanted to stay at the beach as long they could," said Ovhal. "Whether it was playing on beach, camel ride, boating or visit to the fort, the children spared nothing when it came having a gala time," he said. When the children reached the Marood Jinjara fort, they were told that they won't be able to enter the fort as they were late. "But noticing the enthusiasm of the little children, the fort people relented and allowed the children to spend some time at the fort," said Ovhal. "The spirit of the children rubbed off on two foreigners from Netherlands who also joined our Diwali trip," said. "If I get an opportunity to revisit the place, I would surely go again," said Pooja.

Volunteers of the foundations including Sundeep Badhe, Pandit Swapnil Sharma, Bharat Shinde, Bharat Bohra, Amol Waghmare and Todankar took special care of the children.