Satsang Seva Journal

Building on the success of the value education sessions at the Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya, Dahisar the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers at Mumbai launched the same learning paradigm on 31 August 2024 at the Mira Road branch. Starting with an invocation prayer, the volunteers broke the ice with games and creative activities for 30 children from Grades 1 to 4, setting the tone for mindful learning and fostering mutual respect.  Join our volunteers to help empower young minds with love and kindness. Please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

In celebration of International Day of Yoga (21 June 2024), volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) in Pune enlisted the expertise of Bharatiya Yogavidya Kendra (BVK) to host a yoga session at the serene Sri Krishna Dhyan Mandir on 29 June. The objective was to promote holistic well-being for the community, welcoming a diverse group of 8-10 participants ranging from Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha, all uniting on the mat. The skilled trainer, cognizant of age diversity, tailored the program to accommodate all ages and abilities. Starting off with gentle warm-up exercises, the participants flowed through a selection of asanas like Trikonasana and Surya Namaskar to release stiffness. A calming pranayama sequence followed, and led the participants to discover impregnable peace and relaxation within themselves. Many expressed a desire for more such sessions, recounting the depth of ease and rejuvenation they were able to access. Wish to see yoga permeate our culture? Volunteer with us. Wr...

In 'Bhakti Yoga', Shri Krishna tells Arjuna, "One of the most important qualities of a devotee of mine is ' sarva bhoota hitey rataha' – which means that he who has the welfare of all living beings in his heart. Such a person I consider to be very close to me."           - Sri M Janmashtami festivities have commenced at the Madhu Ki Rasoi , the community kitchen of The Satsang Foundation, in the twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan serving fruits, beverages, desserts, and a nourishing meal through the day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to devotees and the less privileged alike. Support Madhu Ki Rasoi , feed the less privileged, and celebrate the joy of giving.  To know more about Madhu Ki Rasoi , please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Hungry and faced with a hard day's work, 275 daily wagers queued up in the heavy rain to partake of nutritious, filling meals offered by Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers at the Sai Baba Temple in Matunga East Station Road, Mumbai. Despite a power outage and incessant showers, the volunteers ensured that the food was prepared on time and offered with reverence to the recipients as they set about to face a gruelling day ahead. Join us in serving the divine in human form. Be a part of our weekly annadaanam seva and experience the joy of giving and sharing. Please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org for volunteering opportunities.

Volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) conducted an eye check-up camp for 60 students at Pragati Vidyalaya, Vashi Gaon in Navi Mumbai on 24 August 2024. Given the intensely competitive academic environment, these students of Grades 9 and 10 spend much time engrossed in their studies, poring over textbooks, and completing assignments.  With the eye check-up, the volunteers were able to help 15 students to redress vision-related problems with prescription glasses. Continued support for this set of students is on the anvil through a series of sessions on Soft Skills, Spoken English, and Yoga.  Join us as we continue to empower our less privileged student communities across Aamchi Mumbai !  Please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

During the value education session organized by the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers on 24 August at Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya, Dahisar, an engaging conversation ensued with 22 bright youngsters of Grade 10.  Faced with the prospect of taking their final exams in a few months, the youngsters expressed their angst at having to deal with a roller-coaster of emotions while trying to balance their academic pursuits with leisure time.  Resuming from the previous session on emotional well-being, a candid sharing of personal anecdotes and emotional reactions helped them learn to assimilate, address, and express a gamut of emotions.  Food for thought for the next weekly session was elicited by way of piercing questions on the role of a teacher and respect accorded to the teacher. Help us support the learning journey of our youngsters. Volunteer with the Satsang Seva Mission. Please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Continuing to support the young children at the Surepally Access Foundation for Education and Environment (SAFEE) Foundation, the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers provided notebooks to all the 290 children receiving academic support classes across 6 learning clusters at Singareni Colony, Hyderabad on 23 August 2024. The children gather every evening and follow-up on their school work under the able guidance of a tutor in a safe and secure learning environment. Creative activities often supplement these sessions, empowering the children to blossom despite their challenging circumstances. The excitement of the young children at the main learning centre was palpable as they received their crisp, new notebooks with joy and gratitude. Join us in our mission to empower our young children from marginalized communities. For volunteering opportunities with the Satsang Seva Mission, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

The Lonkhairi village of Nagpur was in for a pleasant surprise on August 10, 2024. The Satsang Foundation at Nagpur organized a free health check-up camp for the less privileged village folk, an auspicious initiative that garnered an extraordinary response.  The health camp saw a turnout of 220 adults and 90 children less than 10 years of age were treated to essential medical services. Distinguished medical practitioners of the Shalinitai Meghe Hospital (Nagpur) were on their feet conducting various tests like blood pressure, complete blood count, and sugar levels. The tests, consultations, and medicines administered were on-the-house for all the village attendees.  Almost 62 patients, in need of specific tests and specialized treatment like cataract surgeries, heart ailments were further referred to the Shalinitai Meghe Hospital for free treatment. About 13 residents received specialized treatment at the Pediatric, Ophthalmology, and Dermatology departments depending on thei...

The Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) in Bengaluru intensifies its impactful annadaanam seva (food service) by offering nutritious meals and supporting the holistic well-being of those in need.  Vallabh Niketan Ashram   • Monthly Dry Rations: To ensure the continued well-being of residents at Vallabh Niketan Ashram, a home for 30 senior citizens and 45 youngsters, SSM volunteers provide essential dry rations like rice, lentils, wheat, and oil.  • The joy of feeding without expectation: On 11 August, volunteers served a nourishing breakfast to the ashram residents. The smiling faces and lively conversations are an integral part of these Sunday special breakfasts. • Investing in the future: Volunteers conduct academic support sessions, Spoken English classes, and yoga sessions for the Ashram's youth.  Annadaanam seva at Adamya Chetana   A hearty lunch assuaged the hunger of nearly 90 recipients - auto-drivers, street vendors, frail and hunched elderly cit...

The learning journey of the children at Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya, Dahisar continues to ride the wave of compelling storytelling and insightful interactions during the Learning Sessions facilitated by Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers. Grade 10 children took the first steps towards being mindful of self-deprecatory thoughts and transforming them into positive affirmations through simple activities. The young ones of Grades 3 and 4 listened in rapt attention to the enchanting tale of the squirrel which earned its three, white stripes thanks to the graceful, compassionate caress of Lord Sri Rama during the construction of the Rama Setu to Lanka. Paying tribute to this divine act of kindness, the children made sketches of temples dedicated to Lord Sri Rama. Join our volunteers to help empower young minds with love and kindness. Please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

As the volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) arrived at the Sai Baba Temple at Matunga East Station Road on the morning of Saturday 27 July, they offered bhog to the great Sri Sai Nath and broke bread with 400 daily wagers with a filling breakfast. Supporting the basic requirement of over 8750 less privileged for over 34 weeks, this weekly annadaanam seva offers solace to our city builders as they set about their daily grind in the sprawling metropolis of Mumbai. Join us in our efforts to reach out to marginalized communities and experience the joy of giving and sharing. Please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Madhu Ki Rasoi , The Satsang Foundation's community kitchen which provides daily, nourishing meals to the hungry and less privileged in the twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan, organized a special bhandara on the sacred occasion of Guru Purnima on 21 July 2024. The team offered bhog to the deities and prostrated before the padukas of Sri M at the kitchen's shrine, paying homage to the gurus and their infinite grace. A filling meal of puris and vegetable curry was served to 850 hungry citizens and passers-by during a day-long seva session that lasted 8 hours. Join us in sustaining and expanding this community kitchen. Please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission gathered together on Saturday 20 July 2024, the eve of Guru Purnima , offering annadaanam seva at the Sai Baba Temple in Matunga East Station Road even as the monsoon rain poured down incessantly. About 350 hungry, weary passers-by received a comforting, hot meal as they braved the cold rain, seeking refuge under umbrellas and plastic sheets, and expressing their gratitude to the revered Saint of Shirdi.  Join us in our efforts to support our less privileged brethren and experience the joy of giving and sharing. Please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers set off to offer monthly staples and essential items to help support the nutritional and personal hygiene needs of the 75 young girls and boys sheltered at Mathru Abhaya Foundation, Hyderabad. Light-hearted banter and camaraderie marked this monthly visit as the children trooped in from school to rally around their SSM friends, filling them in on their daily schedule and plans for the new scholastic year. To sustain the basic requirements of our less privileged youngsters, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

A breakthrough event on July 14, 2024 in Nagpur was marked with a generous 'gift deed' in the form of a mobile and hospital unit endowed by the honourable Group Chairman, Shri Narendra Hete to Sri M and The Satsang Foundation. This momentous occasion was underpinned with a MOU between Sri M, the President of The Satsang Foundation and Ms. Shalinitai Meghe, the Chancellor of Meghe College and emphasized the delivery of advanced healthcare in rural environments. Shri Narendra Hete, the Chairman of the Valuable Group handed the reins of the state-of-the-art mobile hospital organizing medical camps in the rural territories in and around Vidarbha and Nagpur. This 'hospital-on-wheels' is well equipped with all requisite medical and technical equipment making it a miniature functional hospital with a scale of solutions. To support our health initiatives, please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Collaborating with the Surepally Access Foundation for Education and Environment (SAFEE) Foundation, the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers helped equip six learning centres for 150 children living in a less-privileged neighborhood in Saidabad, Hyderabad.  SAFEE Foundation provides safe spaces free of violence, crime, and discrimination for these vulnerable young children, empowering them with after-school support classes and creative activities in small clusters located in the dusty, narrow bylanes of their colony. Shiny new white boards with stands, stationery, and mats were offered, much to the delight of the bright youngsters. Sweet surprises are always welcome! So it was when they received a delicious treat of kheer and a savory channa snack. The centre was soon abuzz with the children's animated chatter as they eagerly looked forward to yet another evening of fun activities and learning in a secure and nurturing environment. Join our mission to empower our future generat...

Marginalized communities and vulnerable groups across the teeming metropolis of Bengaluru have found nutritional sustenance in the weekly annadaanam seva offered by the Satsang Seva Mission volunteers.  For the 25 youngsters sheltered at Vallabh Niketan Ashram in Central Bengaluru, a special breakfast on Sunday mornings is the opportune moment to unwind after a hectic academic schedule. Hailing from single-parent families with modest means, they have found a safe refuge in this shelter home that provides food, medical care, and educational support. The SSM volunteers also have supported their holistic development through academic support sessions, Spoken English classes, and yoga sessions for over a year. Daily wagers, pavement dwellers, and residents of the less privileged neighborhood of Lakshmipura in Gavipuram, South Bengaluru look forward to the filling Sunday lunch served at the premises of Adamya Chetana, an NGO. Graceful smiles, gentle gestures, and prayers of gratitude ma...

Satsang Seva Mission volunteers at Pune partnered with Sumati Balwan, a local non-profit that empowers underprivileged children through holistic education, combining traditional academics with valuable vocational skills. Here's our recent collaboration at a glance: Improved sanitation : Recognizing the importance of proper hygiene, especially during the monsoon season, the SSM team played a key role in constructing a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Sumati Balwan. Nourishing meals : Understanding the importance of good nutrition for learning and development, the team assisted Sumati Balwan in acquiring a month's supply of essential groceries like oil, sugar, and lentils, providing nutritious meals for the 25 young girls residing in the hostel and the dedicated staff. Supporting animal care : The donation of cows at the home ensured a regular supply of fresh milk to the residents. Nourished with fodder and gentle care, these bovines have found a loving home in Sumati Balwan.   Nu...

ANIKET Sevabhavi Sanstha came alive to the excited cheers of its differently-abled residents. Having received constant support with their nutritional needs, wellness, and shelter for the past 6 years, they warmly welcomed the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers at Pune. The youngsters gathered around them as they offered a month's supply of essential food items and toiletries. Sparkling eyes and winsome smiles greeted the sight of a consignment of rakhis in readiness for the festival of Raksha Bandhan . Donated with the intent of providing financial sustenance through their sale, these sacred, colorful bands caught the collective imagination of the happy troopers. Clean, old fabric was handed over to the ANIKET management team for the creation of cloth bags at their skilling centre. Stitched cloth bags were purchased to encourage the enterprising youngsters and be offered as sustainable gifts at special events. To support the less privileged and experience the joy of giving and s...

Over 100 members from marginalized groups of society joined The Satsang Foundation's unique International Day of Yoga celebration on 21 June 2024 at Nagpur. Eager children sheltered at Shraddhanand Anathalaya (Abhyankar Nagar) and senior citizens residing in Soham Old Age Home (Sita Burdi) enjoyed personalized yoga sessions led by an adept facilitator. The Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers provided ample support, under the guidance of Bharat Yogavidya Kendra (BYK). The sessions provided a chance for relaxation, rejuvenation, and learning the benefits of yoga for their well-being in the long term. Participants appreciated the yoga mats provided during the practice, the ladoos and refreshments offered post-session, all courtesy of a thoughtful volunteer. The personalized approach made the day for some, with children feeling looked after and seniors feeling valued. Equally, the volunteers revelled in the warmth, renewed vitality, and sense of community induced by the event. To hel...