Satsang Seva Journal

The Karunaradham Old Age Home in Medipally, Hyderabad is a safe haven where senior citizens have found much-needed succor and shelter. The Satsang Seva Mission volunteers have been associated with this home for over two years, offering warm blankets, dry rations, and festive meals.  9 November 2024 marked a special day for the volunteers as they offered dry rations to support the nutritional needs of the residents in commemoration of Founder's Day. Comfortable clothing for the women residents was also offered as requested by the caretakers at the home. The volunteers spent time speaking with the elders, listening to their experience of living at the care home that was helping them overcome their challenges, nurturing a rare camaraderie, filled with joy and tender moments. To support the nurture and well-being of our elders at care centres, please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

The Chanda Satsang Vidyalaya Lathira (CSVL) celebrated Sri M's 75th birthday with heartfelt devotion, bringing the spirit of seva to life. A special meal was prepared for the 350-400 senior residents of the nearby Vridh Ashram. In Lathira Garh Mukteshwar, students, staff, and members of The Satsang Foundation (TSF) at Delhi came together for a vibrant ceremony. Children chanted sacred verses and  members lit a diya , offering pranams and prasad at the altar of the Master. Students shared skits about Sri M's inspiring journey, including a moving reenactment of his Walk of Hope, sparking fond memories among many volunteers. A grand bhandara feast followed, welcoming students, their families, local villagers, and the ashram residents. Winter-wear, including sweaters, socks, and caps, was lovingly distributed to the children. TSF members inspired the young audience by sharing stories of Sri M's life of service, while the school principal highlighted CSVL's progress. It ...

Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers at Nagpur continued their outreach program to support the basic needs of less privileged children at two shelter homes in the city. They offered shirts to 50 children at Matoshree Mainabai High School, Joshiwadi on 24 February and a month's supply of groceries at the Shree Anath Seva Ashram, Ashok Nagar on 25th February 2024. This 50-year-old orphanage for children aged between 11 and 18 years provides shelter, care, and free education till graduation.  Your contribution and support can make a difference and help our SSM volunteers to encompass other marginalized groups in your city. To participate in the Satsang Seva Mission and experience the joy of giving and sharing, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Teams SSM Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Youth for Seva continued their joint efforts at offering shirts to children of pavement dwellers supported at the 10 study centres of Youth for Seva , Nagpur. During the second round of seva, on 20th August 2023, the 20 children at the Mokhare centre were overjoyed to receive their new shirts. This ongoing seva was offered subsequently at other centres. During the third round of seva, on 27th August 2023, 25 children at Shyambagh Centre were elated to receive their new shirts even as the volunteers expressed their gratitude for having supported these bright youngsters. During the fourth round of seva, on 3rd September 2023, the 15 children at Ittabhatti Centre brimmed with joy as they received their new shirts. During the fifth round of seva, on 10th September 2023, the 50 children at Ganga Nagar Centre, were filled with joy to receive their new shirts. On 15th October 2023, the team offered s chool bags to 50 less-privileged children supported at ...

Teams SSM Nagpur and Ahmedabad joined hands with Youth for Seva to offer shirts to 20 children of pavement dwellers at Nagpur on 12th August 2023. Youth for Seva is an organization which helps children living in slums by providing them basic education across 10 centres in Nagpur.  A volunteer from Team SSM Ahmedabad provided about 300 Indigo Plus branded shirts to be offered to the children supported at these 10 centres. While the children were ecstatic after having received their new attire, the Youth for Seva volunteers were also happy to receive copies of Sri M's autobiography - Apprenticed to an Himalayan Master : A Yogi's Autobiography . To participate in the Satsang Seva Mission, please write to us at  connect@satsang-foundation.org . #SriM #TheSatsangFoundation #SatsangSevaMission #SSM #Seva #Nagpur #Ahmedabad #YouthForSeva

Volunteers of Teams SSM Mumbai and Ahmedabad joined hands to offer shirts to young boys students of Adivasi Ashram Shala, Matheran on 24th June 2023. Having organized a plantation drive and a series of activities centred round the protection and nurture of trees for students of Grades 5 to 10, the SSM volunteers then offered new shirts from Indigo Plus to 251 students of Grades 1 to 4. The excited students flocked to the display table and chose shirts of their favorite colors while the volunteers helped them to pick the right sizes. The silent mountains and soft drizzle set the ambiance for a homely lunch to conclude this unique event. To participate in the Satsang Seva Mission, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org . #TheSatsangFoundation #SatsangSevaMission #SSM #Mumbai #Ahmedabad

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 ...

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 ...

The Desire Society, established in 2004, has been promoting the well-being and health development of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Vizag, and Noida. The children who are usually abandoned by one or both parents most of whom are sex workers or truck drivers face multiple challenges of disadvantaged socio-economic conditions; abuse; and a precarious health situation. In November 2021, Team SSM Mumbai had distributed educational material to the children at the Vashi center in Mumbai to celebrate Deepavali with them. This year too, on 17th September 2022, the team members collaborated with Unicare Emergency Equipment Pvt. Ltd. to provide school bags, T-shirts, and pants to the little ones who were overjoyed to receive these essential items. Games and fun activities with these precious children transformed this gesture into a truly extraordinary and heart-warming experience for all! What was even more endearing was the video that the team members received t...

Team SSM Kolkata visited Tokipur village which is located near the Taki Indo-Bangladesh border on the 24th of April 2022 and interacted with the inhabitants who work there as farm laborers for a meager daily wage of 150 or 200 rupees.  Most of them are aged and ill. Some are bedridden and have no children to rely on and have to depend on their aging spouses. They have no other means to support their basic requirements of food, medicines, and education of their dependents. The dire lack of other livelihood opportunities and local municipal support have only worsened their situation through the COVID-19 pandemic. The team members distributed kits that comprised dry rations such as rice, semolina, broken wheat, pulses, sugar, and tea; and essential items such as clothes, bathing soaps, and clothes detergent. They also handed over cash to families which hardly have the wherewithal to buy vegetables and daily provisions.  Given the pitiable living conditions and lack of basic ameni...

Udhavum Ullangal Helping Hearts, an NGO, was established in 2001 to support abandoned children and women who are rescued from the streets, parks, and railway and bus stations.    The managers of this NGO had requested Team SSM Chennai to provide dry rations and essential items to the 45 girls aged between 6 and 16 years and the 15 elderly women who are presently living at the home in Maralmarai Nagar, Chennai.     The team members visited the home on the 28th of March, 2022 and distributed dry rations such as rice, sugar, lentils, peanuts, semolina, salt, dried red chillies, dry fruits, coffee, and tea.      The children were delighted to receive a tiny goody bag filled with biscuits, a T-shirt, and a wire tray to store their personal belongings. To experience the joy of giving, click https://satsangsevamission.org/contribute .

Nestled away in a quiet corner of Palghar – a two-hour drive from Mumbai – the Maratha Life Foundation at Jambhulpada renders yeoman service to people who are abandoned by their families. This foundation is the result of the tremendous dedication and motivation of Sri Lokhande and his team who selflessly help the old, infirm, socially outcast, and underprivileged by giving them the respect they deserve. Team SSM Mumbai has been associated with this foundation for the past five years and supports it regularly. With the onset of winter, the team members decided to provide the inmates with essential items to combat the bitter cold: bedsheets, sweaters, and jackets with hoods.  The inmates were delighted to receive these thoughtful gifts on Christmas. The team members also celebrated this joyous occasion with them by distributing freshly prepared chivda , biscuits, and tea.  The team members were filled with immense joy and delight that they were able to offer this seva which wa...

With a severe cold wave sweeping over Telangana, Team SSM Hyderabad received a request from the manager of the Sri Krishna Goshala at Kokapet in West Hyderabad to provide the employees with warm woolens to combat the bitter cold. The need was immediate given that the employees rise at dawn to milk the cows in a lush, open space.  The team members arrived at the goshala at 8 a.m. on the 22nd of December, 2021 and distributed 120 jackets with hoods to these employees and their families. The cheerful faces and excited chatter of the children and ladies filled the hearts of the team members with great joy and gratitude for having shared these incredible moments with them. Watch the video here.

Given the severe cold wave in Telangana, the little boys and young men of the Mathru Abhaya Foundation, an orphanage situated in Medipally, Northwestern Hyderabad, required warm woolens urgently since they leave early in the morning for their respective schools and colleges. Members of Team SSM Hyderabad distributed 30 jackets with hoods at 7 a.m. on the 23rd of December so they could step out snuggly ensconced in these jackets immediately. The children posed for a superb group photo while they smilingly expressed their happiness and gratitude. The team members were relieved and joyous that they were able to support these enthusiastic and loving youngsters.

The homeless in the Park Circus neighborhood of Kolkata had much to cheer about when they received abundant gifts of warmth from the members of Team SSM Kolkata. The team members stepped out on the streets with mats, bedsheets, blankets, shawls, and jackets at 10 p.m. on the 20th of December 2021. They found several homeless brethren trying to keep themselves warm with meagre clothing and sleeping on the bare cold pavement or on tarpaulin sheets. They laid out the mats, spread the bedsheets, and lovingly wrapped the recipients with blankets and shawls. The sheer joy and gratitude they witnessed was indeed overwhelming. Watch the video here.

"Seva is an opportunity provided to a human to help with self-development. One needs to thank those who provide us an opportunity to help them and make them happy." - Sri M The members  of the Satsang Seva Mission team at Bengaluru celebrated the Festival of Lights, Deepavali, with fervor and joy at Vallabh Niketan Ashram on the 4th of November, 2021. Excitement filled the air at dawn as the 50 children   and staff welcomed the SSM team members who kicked off the festivities by serving them a delicious breakfast of their choice. After a brief interaction with the children, the team members donated new clothes to them. The children rushed to their dormitory to wear these new clothes and looked forward to the rest of the activities that had been planned for the day.  A traditional lunch comprising several special dishes preceded an afternoon filled with fun activities. The infectious joy and huge smiles of the children simply filled everyone with great happiness.  The...

"Kindness and doing good should go hand in hand with one's meditative practices. They complement each other, resulting in one's spiritual growth."  - Sri M   An SSM team member from Gujarat has worked relentlessly to provide warm clothing and other sevas on Deepavali not only in Ahmedabad but also to other cities across India. On the eve of Deepavali, the 3rd of November 2021, he distributed new shirts to 100 street dwellers in the Ahmedabad city area to spread love and joy during the festive occasion. Their happiness and gratitude were evident as they enthusiastically tried on their new shirts with a winsome smile on their faces. The sheer joy of sharing abundance with them made this Deepavali truly bright and blissful for SSM Gujarat.