Satsang Seva Journal

Team SSM Mumbai visited Radhika Old Age Home in Bhayander West, Thane on Saturday, 29th October 2022 . Presently, this safe home shelters 57 senior citizens who are looked after by 12 resident staff members certified in geriatric care.   The home reverberated with a collective chant of "Aum" by the entire group. A game of "passing the parcel" then  helped to kickstart the activity session. The enthused senior citizens and staff joined the team members as they sang a medley of soulful bhajans and Bollywood classic songs from the 1970s. The cherry on the cake, however, was the euphoric dance session that followed. The team members kept up the tempo with vigor and ensured that everyone had a great time! A healthy and nutritious meal of puris, chole, dal, rice, pickle, and papad was relished heartily by the residents.  The team members also offered adult diapers to support the sanitary needs of the elders. The teary hopeful eyes of the residents anticipating another v...

The enduring company of beloved friends; festive cuisine; new attire; firecrackers; foot-stomping music; and enthusiastic dancing: these are the captivating vignettes from the dazzling Deepavali celebration organized for the youngsters at the Vallabh Niketan Ashram on 24th October 2022.     The day began with a simple yet delicious breakfast of idlis, vadas, sambar, and chutney . Gifts of trendy sweatshirts were offered to the entire group as the day progressed.     An elaborate, festive lunch of puris, chana masala, ghee rice, plain rice, rasam, masala vadas, rasam, curd, papad, and Bengali sweets brought much happiness to the youngsters.     The afternoon was spent in engaging conversations with the SSM team members and playing games with friends.   As the evening approached, the youngsters were given a mouthwatering, savory treat of pani puri, masala puri, and other chaat items before the grand finale of the celebration.     The children ...

The Garware Chowk traffic junction and its vicinity in Andheri is home to a large community of pavement dwellers most of whom are unemployed while others sell flowers, garlands or festive items to commuters.      Team SSM Mumbai has been supporting this marginalized community since the past few months by offering regular annadaanam seva on Saturday afternoons and occasional biscuit treats to the children.     On the auspicious occasion of Deepavali, the 24th of October 2022, the team members offered a filling meal of pooris, chole, rice, lentils, papad, pickle, and sweet halwa to about 70 people at five traffic junctions near the Garware Chowk traffic signal. As the team members moved on to J.B. Nagar, 50 meal packets were offered to the less privileged in the neighborhood.      The team members felt truly humbled as smiles of relief and gratitude greeted them during this special annadaanam seva .   Write to connect@satsang-foundation.org ...

Kalighat, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Kolkata, houses the ancient and legendary Kali Temple that attracts devotees across India. Always bustling with activity and densely populated, this locality also shelters some of the most impoverished citizens in the City of Joy: the homeless, living on the pavements in the vicinity of the Kalighat Kali Temple. Often depending on alms or odd jobs to eke out a living, they face crushing challenges just to survive another day.     On Sunday, 23rd October 2022, Team SSM Kolkata reached out to this marginalized community by offering them their monthly annadaanam seva .  Hot, freshly-prepared vegetable khichadi provided by ISKCON was served to over 350 people with much compassion and gratitude.     Tears of appreciation rolled down the cheeks of an elderly recipient as the youngest team member, a six-year-old girl, served her with loving kindness and care. The little child's enthusiasm and empathy touched the hearts of re...

Ganeshpuri, situated about 60 kms from Mumbai airport, is renowned for the temple of Swami Nityananda, a great avadhuta who touched the life of innumerable devotees.     Since August 2022, an SSM team member has been providing dry rations and daily lunch to a group of 25 children and senior citizens staying at a shelter near the temple. Abandoned by their families, this neglected group seeks alms or depends on the generosity of devotees who donate food or clothing during festive occasions.      For the first time in years, the Festival of Lights brought some moments of cheer to the inmates. On 23rd October 2022, the eve of Deepavali, they performed an aarati in honor of Swami Nityananda. The children were particularly delighted to receive sweets and fire crackers. Loud chants of 'Happy Diwali' rang out as they rushed out to the street and lit the fire crackers together with great joy!      Watch the video here.   The following morning, the e...

Deepavali festivities at Mumbai began with a joyous sharing of traditional snacks with the children of daily wagers housed at the Tirupada and Labour Camp, Hiranandani Estate in Thane on 23rd October 2022.     Team SSM Mumbai collaborated with young volunteers from the neighborhood to offer 140 boxes filled with nutritious snacks such as laddus, chaklis, vadas, and idlis.      The thrilled children peered curiously into their snack boxes to taste the goodies and share them with their friends and family members.   To participate in such festive sevas and support Team SSM Mumbai, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Sumati Balwan is a shelter home for children from less privileged, rural families living in Katraj, on the outskirts of Pune. The children harbored here receive food, shelter, education, and medical care under the aegis of the Radhabai Hardikar Pranijat Mangal Sanstha. Team SSM Pune visited the home on 22 October 2022 to celebrate Deepavali with 25 young residents most of whom couldn't afford to visit their parents during the Deepavali vacation. An elaborate festive meal of puris, vegetable curry, rice, kadhi, kichadi, and sheera was shared with the children and the staff. The sweet smiles of gratitude on their faces was indeed overwhelming for the team members! To support Team SSM Pune and experience the joy of giving and sharing, write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Team SSM Coimbatore celebrated the auspicious festival of Deepavali with the lively group of senior citizens at the Eera Nenjam Old Age Home on 22nd October 2022.     The team members offered boxes of assorted burfis , boondi laddus , and halwa and savory mixture to the 86 residents of this safe home, run by the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation.     Loving conversations and happy laughter filled the courtyard as the residents enjoyed the soft sweets, specially prepared to suit their health requirements. The team members were overwhelmed as their beloved senior friends greeted them with a warm embrace and many blessings for their well-being and happiness.    To participate in such festive sevas and support Team SSM Coimbatore, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .    

As a run-up to Diwali, the joyous festival of lights, which ushers in radiance and great happiness for all, Team SSM Kolkata offered Diwali Ki Mithai , a sweet seva , to the less privileged who live near the legendary Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata on 20th October 2022.     They distributed 100 snack boxes filled with sweets and savory singhadas to the local residents comprising daily wagers, senior citizens, and the homeless in the neighborhood that leads to Gate 1 of the temple.     The children were particularly happy to receive these festive goodies and rewarded the team members with their innocent smiles. The entire team felt blessed to have shared these precious moments of joy with their less privileged brethren.   To experience the joy of giving and sharing and support Team SSM Kolkata in their endeavors, write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

For the past 11 months, Team SSM Mathura-Vrindavan has collaborated with Team SSM Delhi-NCR to serve daily evening meals to the less privileged at Mathura and Vrindavan. The annadaanam seva began in a humble manner, supporting a small group of 35 or 40 people on a daily basis. Presently, the number has tripled and on some evenings, 150 to 160 people participate in this community meal. Till date approximately 30000 meals have been served to the hungry denizens of Mathura and Vrindavan. Special meals are offered during festive occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, and ceremonies for the departed. To help sustain the efforts of Team SSM Mathura-Vrindavan, write to us at connect@satsang.foundation.org .

The Eera Nenjam Old Age Home at R S Puram, Coimbatore shelters 80 senior citizens and provides them with food, accommodation, and medical care. Team SSM Coimbatore has been associated with this safe haven through the pandemic and continues to provide support through the provision of dry rations, cooked meals, and medicines.     On 7th October 2022, the team members visited the home and handed over the monthly dry rations which comprised 10 kgs each of lentils, Bengal gram, green gram, poha or beaten rice, jaggery; and 10 litres of cooking oil.     To support the initiatives of Team SSM Coimbatore, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .  

Team SSM Mumbai celebrated Ashtami , the eighth day of Navaratri , in traditional style with the commemoration of kanyas or young, unmarried girls at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) School in Kopar Gaon, Vashi on 3rd October 2022. Fifty kanyas aged between 8 and 11 years were invited to participate in the Kanya Pooja . Considered as manifestations of the divine Mother Goddess Durga, their feet were gently washed and wiped dry. Auspicious offerings of turmeric powder, vermilion powder, red duppattas , and bangles were given to each girl child.  A special prasadam of halwa, puri, and chole was then served  lovingly to them in hygienically packed meal trays. The little girls were absolutely delighted to receive beautiful frocks and dresses, and accessories such as hair bands, bindis , and bangles at the end of this festive event.  Team SSM Mumbai expresses its gratitude to the generosity and unflinching support of its donors and volunteers in organizing this ...

Nar Seva Narayan Seva - Service to Mankind is Service to God                                                                                             -  Swami Vivekananda  On 2nd October 2022, the 7th day of Navaratri , Teams SSM Delhi-NCR and Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra (BYVK), Delhi put their minds and hearts together and exemplified this lofty exhortation of Swami Vivekananda through a unique annadaanam seva offered to 1500 homeless people at the Yamuna Pushta Shelter.     As the people gathered under the rich, pink canopies set up in the shade of the tree-lined avenue, the BYVK Delhi team members first interacted with them. Demonstrations of techniques which promote breath awareness to help calm the mind; and Sheetkari and Suryabhedana ...