Satsang Seva Journal

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 ...

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...

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 .

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 .

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 ...

Sundays are filled with cheer and enthusiasm as the children of Vallabh Niketan Ashram meet their friends from Team SSM Bengaluru over a sumptuous breakfast every week. On 24 July 2022, the children queued up for set dosas, vegetable kurma, vadas, sambar, and chutney and sat down for a little prayer of thanksgiving before taking their meal. Friendly banter and shared smiles accompanied the meal as the youngsters regaled themselves with hearty helpings. To support and share these weekly special breakfasts with these bright youngsters and experience the joy of giving, please volunteer at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Since October 3, 2021 Team SSM Bengaluru has been serving fresh meals to the caregivers of patients on every alternate Sunday at the St. John's Hospital. The meals are prepared and packed into food grade boxes by Adamya Chetana Foundation, a voluntary organization that supports the less privileged. On Sunday, 24 July 2022, the team members welcomed yet another consignment of 200 boxes filled with a nutritious meal of tomato rice. They placed the boxes on a large trolley and wound their way through the serpentine maze of the out-patient department building to stop at the pediatric, psychiatric, pre-operative, post-operative, neonatal, and general wards. They lovingly handed out the meal boxes to the caregivers seated in the aisles and to those in the wards keeping a close vigil over their beloved children and family members.  It was truly a heart-rending and humbling experience as these beleaguered caregivers accepted the meal boxes with warm smiles and a sweet 'thank you' i...

Saturday, 23 July 2002 witnessed the 28th week of blessed langar seva organized at the Malad Gurudwara. Team SSM Mumbai served a nourishing meal of pulao, chole, pickle, and gulab jamuns to 80 hungry souls. During the pangat or congregation, the team members welcome their guests, chant the name of Waheguru, the Wondrous Enlightener , and bow down reverentially as they serve them. Grace and gratitude flow endlessly as the recipients hold up their plates with both hands and express their relief at having had their first meal of the day.   For the team members this experience is always humbling as they see themselves in their less privileged brethren. Join us in our weekly langar seva and experience the bliss of selfless giving. Contact us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Team SSM Mumbai set out to the Sai Baba Temple at Chembur on Saturday 23 July 2022 to offer the weekly annadaanam seva to the slum dwellers who live nearby. The seva began with a vibrant aarti  performed at the temple in the presence of these precious denizens and the team members alike. A filling meal of peas pulao, chole, pickle, and gulab jamuns , in hygienically packed trays was then shared with 100 people.  The children who had gathered there after school were supremely thrilled as they chattered away excitedly and beamed happily when they received a special treat of cream biscuits and chocolates with their meal. The women also expressed their satisfaction for having partaken of a full meal instead of the usual leftovers at home while the senior citizens wholeheartedly appreciated the tasty meal. Over the past four weeks, this wondrous community has accepted the team members as their own and have invited them to participate in the upcoming Independence Day celebration a...

Swami Vivekananda once said: Don't go and preach religion to a hungry man. Feed him first. His religion right now is food. With this exhortation in mind, Team SSM Delhi offered annadaanam seva to 1500 homeless people at Yamuna Pushtha on Sunday, 29 May 2022.  The seva began with a Guru Puja to seek the blessings of the masters. Then the volunteers of The Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra (BYVK) divided the large group of people into smaller groups and taught them a few simple techniques of Pranayama . The SSM team members then served a freshly cooked meal to the congregation. As the seva drew to a close, the happy faces of those who had just partaken of this meal brought much satisfaction to the team members.  To participate in such initiatives, reach us at connect@satsang-foundation.org or click https://satsangsevamission.org/contribute .

Eera Nenjam Old Age Home located at RS Puram, Coimbatore provides shelter to senior citizens who have been abandoned by their families. Team SSM Coimbatore has been associated with this home since the past two years and regularly provides dry rations, medicines, and cooked meals.     The team members visited the home on 7th May 2022  and offered annadaanam seva to the 85 inmates who are presently housed there.     They served a traditional lunch consisting of rice, sambar , puli kuzhambu , kootu , vegetable curry, rasam , buttermilk, papads , and payasam .      The inmates were filled with happiness as they blessed the team members for sharing a fulfilling meal and spending precious moments with them. To experience the joy of giving, click https://satsangsevamission.org/contribute .

Sumati Balwan is an orphanage that is situated at Kondhwa, Pune. It was established by Dr. Sharayu Ghole, a gynaecologist to cater to underprivileged children.  Subsequently, a school was established nearby and now has about 600 students.  Presently, there are 16 young girls who stay at the orphanage and attend the school which is situated on a beautiful hill top and offers plenty of fresh air and sunshine for these girls to grow and learn in a natural setting. On the occasion of the Festival of Lights, Deepavali, the members of Team SSM Pune organized a festive lunch and distributed faral , snacks to these youngsters.  The team members were truly impressed when the youngsters took them on a tour of their home which is completely anchored in Mother Nature. They were extremely pleased to see that the children had built a biogas plant and planted numerous fruit bearing trees and plants to ensure self-sufficiency and sustainability.  The girls learn rock climbing among...

Caring Hands provides shelter to children who belong to indigenous communities such as Paradhi, Bhilla, Laman, Dombari, Kaikadi, Ghisadi, Dhanagar, Vaidu, and Kolhati mostly from the Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra. Despite the aid of the government these communities continue to suffer at several levels: social, educational, and economic. This safe home at Pune ensures that these children are given the opportunity to surmount their basic challenges and move ahead in their lives with their heads held high. Having planted about 200 trees on the premises of this home during the monsoon season, the members of Team SSM Pune had struck up a good rapport with the children and the staff.  On the occasion of Sri M's birthday, the 6th of November, the team members  organized a festive meal for these children aged between 5 and 12 years. Most of the children had requested a meal of pav bhaji and were waiting eagerly to share their meal with them. After this sumptuous meal, the team ...