Being Positive Blog: Volunteer Work at India-Dec 31, 2021
During our most recent trip to India, the homeless inspired us to do something new. We visited during December, so it was winter there. The weather may have seemed warm to us, but it was cold for the people living in India, especially for the homeless. They did not have blankets or the luxury of heaters. In many cases, they were making fires with their clothes. Poverty in India is a significant issue. According to the Homeless World Cup, there are 1.8 million homeless people and 73 million families in India that lack access to decent housing as of 2019. Unfortunately, this number is only rising. While we were visiting India, we saw tons of poverty. We would see hundreds of children begging for money or food when driving through highways. When visiting temples to pray, there were almost a hundred beggars. We became deeply saddened by seeing the impoverished because, as Hindus, dana (giving) is an integral part of our dharma. We would always give money at these temples, but it hurt us deeply that we could not provide for all. As a result, we decided to do something different. We contacted the Shri Ranchhodrai Jee Mandir in Sarangpur, Ahmedabad. This temple feeds the local impoverished every day using donations or funds. We decided to join them in their endeavors. The temple typically feeds the poor at the temple’s doors at that time, but we told them to try to get as many people as they could to come so we can feed as many people as possible. On the day we visited the temple, we brought along 100 blankets. We decided to gift these to the people who came to eat. Once we arrived, we prayed and donated. Thanks to our donation, the temple will feed the homeless for the time to come. In the end, 80 people showed up to eat. The drive went very successfully, as we could feed everyone and give them all a blanket. We enjoyed understanding their stories and learning from them. We provided them with famous Indian sweets as well. Once they took a bite of it, they all became delighted, and every single person asked for seconds. It felt very nice to put a smile on all of their faces. Despite their conditions, they would sing religious songs and hymns that taught us the power of being positive and having the right mindset. Their lessons will stick with us as we spread positivity to others. We urge everyone to support those who cannot provide for themselves.
