Satsang Seva Journal

Even as this monsoon saw the River Yamuna rise to unprecedented levels in Delhi after 45 years, flooding the plains, the poor migrant population living in and around its banks were left stranded without food, water, and essential supplies.   Team SSM Delhi worked in unison with the Centre for Holistic Development (CHD) from 14 to18 July 2023 to offer lunch and dinner to 250 people ousted from their homes by the overflowing water. One thousand litres of safe drinking water was distributed along with 300 packets of sanitary pads for the womenfolk. From 15 to 22 July, two thousand litres of water along with hygiene kits comprising toothpaste, soap, shampoo pouches, sanitary pads, and mosquito repellent creams were provided along with 2,000 biscuit packets to people in the Yamuna Pushta area of Monestay, Kashmere Gate, Jawahar Shramik Sthal, Nigambodh Ghat, Yamuna Bazaar, Nili, Chhatri, Bela Estate, Mool Chand Basti, ITO, Geeta Colony Flyover, Sarai Kale Khan, and Behlopur Chilla ...

Their homes reduced to rubble, many of their loved ones dead, and the chill of winter seeping into their bones, the quake-hit children, women, and men of Turkey are going through incredible pain and suffering.  On the 13th of February, 2023 Team SSM Delhi-NCR sent 400 warm blankets through the Turkish Embassy as an expression of their solidarity and support. Blessings and prayers for the alleviation of their suffering were offered before the blankets were handed over. To join hands with Team SSM Delhi-NCR , please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

On the 11th of February, Team SSM Delhi-NCR joined hands with the Center for Holistic Development (CHD) to offer annadaanam seva to over 1500 city makers at the Jawahar Shramik Sthal, Yamuna Pushta.  Sri M, founder of The Satsang Foundation, graced the occasion and spoke of the importance of service to mankind. After inspecting the new shelter home Sri M recommended the installation of desert coolers during summer. He also supported the launch of several skilling and livelihood initiatives at the home.  Mr. Sunil Kumar Aledia, founder of CHD, spoke of the various initiatives aimed at including the marginalized city makers into the mainstream and helping them live a life of dignity. The SSM volunteers then lovingly served a nutritious meal of rice, lentils, potato and cauliflower curry, chilli pickle, semolina halwa , and ginger chai to the city makers in batches till 3 p.m.  A youngster expressed joy at having partaken of a full meal while a lady shramik offered her bl...

Team SSM Delhi-NCR members assembled outside Delhi Gate Metro Station on Thursday, 22nd December, 2022 at 11 p.m. and scouted the areas of Delhi Gate, ISBT, Yamuna Pushta and Asif Ali Road to distribute blankets to the pavement dwellers and the homeless.  As hundreds of homeless people slept on footpaths, under the bridges and on the bare ground under the flyover our secret Santas silently spotted those without adequate warmth and covered them with blankets.  This activity was done with the guidance of Shri Indu Prakash ji, who has been working for the homeless for years. The team members took about two and a half hours to distribute 200 blankets.  Wishing everyone the warmest season's greetings from all of us at The Satsang Foundation! Join us for more such random acts of kindness at connect@satsang-foundation.org.

Team SSM Delhi celebrated the birthday of Sri M on 6th November, 2022 by offering annadaanam seva to over 1600 migrant workers and the homeless at the Yamuna Pushta Night Shelter. As the residents gathered under vibrant tents, the celebration began with the traditional lighting of the lamp and singing of soulful bhajans to invoke the Divine presence of the Gurus.  The team members then gifted various musical instruments and a microphone set to the residents to help fulfill their dream of setting up a Bhajan Mandali . A session of simple pranayama and asanas conducted by the volunteers of the Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra (BYVK) followed. The residents learned how to combat the poor AQI in Delhi and mitigate body aches brought on by hard labor. Finally, the team members and volunteers from Centre for Holistic Development (CHD) tirelessly served sizzling hot puris , chhole, kaddu ki sabzi, suji halwa, and delicious mirchi ka achaar to several batches of the hungry for over four hours...

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 ...

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 .

As temperatures plummeted in Delhi and Omicron added to denizens' woes, Team SSM Delhi-NCR decided to ring in the new year with warmth and hope. On the first of January, the team distributed 300 blankets to care-takers of low income patients from all over the country seeking treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).     Compelled to stay either on the footpath outside AIIMS or find basic accommodation at the AIIMS Vishram Sadan (Rest House), patients and their caretakers are exposed to the extreme weather conditions in the capital city in addition to dealing with their ailments.  As the team members arrived outside the Vishram Sadan at 12 noon, they found people in wheelchairs; men with flimsy torn jackets; children who had bandages over their eyes; mothers with little ones; and old people stretching their hands out even as they brought out the blankets for distribution.     A hundred of these blankets had been purchased with the collecti...

The day for the Delhi SSM Team started before dawn with a couple of members driving around the city beginning to experience the harsh nip of winter to distribute 25 blankets to pavement dwellers, auto rickshaw drivers, and street vendors even as they huddled and slept in the cold air. The smiles of gratitude and the comfortable stretching out for some who did not even notice that a blanket was spread over them in their deep sleep, were enough to warm the team's heart.  For the 6th and 7th of November, at the Ramakrishna Mission, in the heart of the city, the team donated 100 kgs of rice, 50 kgs of lentils, 2 kgs of salt, and two kgs of oil for making hot khichadi that the ashram distributes to rickshaw pullers and slum dwellers every day. The steaming hot khichadi was distributed among 60 sadhus and 70 students at the ashram plus 150 slum dwellers and rickshaw pullers on both days.  The evening saw the team stop by at a Dharamshala opposite the All India Institute of Medica...

A fresh hot lunch of mixed vegetables, channa , and puri with a dollop of gur for 30 ragpicker children, a few truck drivers, and mechanics on the busy Som Vihar traffic light marked the inauguration of the Annadanam in honour of Sri M's birthday in Delhi-NCR on Friday the 5th of November.       The packed lunch disappeared in minutes and the delighted team came back satisfied and happy with thanksgiving and gratitude for having been able to provide service to honour their spiritual leader and guide.