As part of the Just One program for the underprivileged children in slum areas, the Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust holds a monthly feeding for the local children at the Sathya Sai Maa Moksha Dham. It is great to be able to serve the children and families that live in our own Harishchandra Ghat community. The children all know us by name now, but they are still a relatively unruly bunch as compared to the areas that we go to where educators teach the children manners. Still, they are our unruly children and are so friendly whenever we see them on the streets.
It is summer here, so school is out for the next 2 months. Despite the lack of attendance by the local schools, we have a very strong turnout of more than 125 children. There seems to be more younger children than I am accustomed to seeing. In addition, we have more than 50 adults attend the feeding. The weather is very hot now, but still not nearly as hot as it will get. It is over 42 C / 108 F and there is no wind.
It is interesting to observe the difference in the feedings when the weather is this hot. No one wants to be out in the mid-part of the day, so we have a big rush at the 11.30am opening and are pretty much finished with the bulk of the people within 45 minutes. Usually these feedings last for 2 hours or more.
The menu for today consists of seasonal summer vegetable curry with potatoes, puri, khir, and cold water. The cold water is a smashing hit! The food is tasty and spicy. The children do not stay around too long afterward. They are in a hurry to get home and avoid the intensity of the afternoon sun. At the end of the day, one of the last boys to eat had his shoes taken after being here for less than 15 minutes. He does not seem to be half as disturbed as I am for him. Alas, that is part of the culture here and it won't be his last time losing sandals.
It is interesting to observe the difference in the feedings when the weather is this hot. No one wants to be out in the mid-part of the day, so we have a big rush at the 11.30am opening and are pretty much finished with the bulk of the people within 45 minutes. Usually these feedings last for 2 hours or more.
The menu for today consists of seasonal summer vegetable curry with potatoes, puri, khir, and cold water. The cold water is a smashing hit! The food is tasty and spicy. The children do not stay around too long afterward. They are in a hurry to get home and avoid the intensity of the afternoon sun. At the end of the day, one of the last boys to eat had his shoes taken after being here for less than 15 minutes. He does not seem to be half as disturbed as I am for him. Alas, that is part of the culture here and it won't be his last time losing sandals.
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