SSM Pune Celebrates Chaitra Navaratri at ANIKET Sevabhavi Sanstha
ANIKET Sevabhavi Sanstha is a home which nurtures 60 cognitively-impaired children who have been abandoned by their families. Team SSM Pune has been associated with this organization since the past three years and has supported these special children through annadanam seva, provision of groceries, medical check-ups, distribution of clothes and essential items, and financial support towards the payment of the monthly electricity bill.
On the 5th of April 2022, the third day of the Chaitra Navratri, the team members spent a fun-filled evening of yoga followed by dinner and the distribution of stationery kits.
The children learned how to imitate the postures of animals and trees with pictures as visual aids and the guidance of a team member, who is a graduate of the Teacher Training Course of the Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra, Madanapally.
Joyful laughter and enthusiastic cries marked this yoga session as the children performed asanas such as Marjariasana (Cat pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra pose), Vrikshasana (Tree pose), and Trikonasana (Tree bent by a strong gust of wind) to sounds such as meow, hiss, and swoosh respectively!
The audio-visual inputs helped them relate to these postures easily. They also learned how to do pranayama by blowing balloons. Soon enough the yoga session turned into a play session! The children danced and played games together. Their joy was simply infectious!
A scrumptious dinner of khichadi, lentils, vegetable bhurji, bread, papad, and gulab jamuns followed this energetic session of yoga and play. In a touching gesture, the children requested the team members to share the meal with them and enquired if they had eaten well.
They were overjoyed when they received stationery kits that comprised A4 size paper, colored art paper, crayons, sketch pens, and color pencils and readily posed for 'selfies' and photos with the team members.
The organization manager also received Rs. 22,000 as financial support towards the payment of utility bills and rent.
The team members expressed their gratitude to this beautiful community that continues to teach them love, resilience, and joy in little things.
To support these extraordinary children and experience their unconditional love, click https://satsangsevamission.org/contribute.