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BHAJAN
MANDALS
and
MANDIRS
are
feeding hungry children
thru
bhajan programs
They
have one bhajan program every week. One bhajan program raises enough
money to feed many children for the whole week.
As
we all know, this is a Hindu tradition that goes back millions of
years. People put money in aarti and in donation box. No one has to
ask for it. Plus the host family gives a separate donation. Bhajan
Mandal people use this money to feed the hungry.
I
have been seeing this and I have been involved in it since
childhood. I have told my childhood story in my audio CD
"Bhajan-no Vepar". You can download the CD, free of cost,
from that page.
I
will write it here very briefly.
I
grew up in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. We had two beautiful Mandirs and
several Bhajan Mandals. My mother was a prominent singer and
everyone's favorite. (Even now, at age 85, she creates a divine
atmosphere.) Every Saturday night we had bhajan programs hosted by
different families every week. It is our Hindu tradition that people
put money in aarti and in donation box. No one has to make an appeal
for that. Plus the host family gives a special donation. Bhajan
Mandal people and Mandir people, they were using that money to help
poor people. Every Sunday they would go to poor areas with ration,
vegetables, utensils and all that, they would set up a kitchen there,
cook food, involve local people in cooking, feed hungry people,
distribute clothes and shoes and do many other things. My parents
were always involved in all that. They made me a volunteer when I was
six years old, YES, six years old. Many other parents had involved
their children my age. We all grew up doing this. I have continued to
do it all my life. This childhood experience is the foundation of the
work I am dong now.
Now
we are doing it on a global scale. We welcome participation of
Bhajan Mandals and Mandirs from around the world. Together we will
feed millions of hungry children. No child will sleep hungry in India.
Kabir
kahe Kamalko, Dou baata sikhle,
Kar
Sahebki bandagi, Aur bhukheko anna de.
(English:
Sant Kabir says to Kamal,
learn
to do two things in life:
Pray
to God and Feed the Hungry.)
Singing
bhajans is worship of God. Feeding hungry children is also worship
of God.
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