The January 19th feeding is at Shivpuruva. Shivpuruva is not to be confused with Shivpur, an area on the outskirts of Varanasi. Shivpuruva is in the heart of the city, very close to Harishchandra Ghat, the home of the Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust. Varanasi is the home of Shiva, so there are many places that begin with Shiv, all of which the locals can clearly distinguish.
This has been one of my favorite locations because of the children. I love coming here. The children are so friendly and respectful. They start cheering as I drive in. I am greeted as I have been before, surrounded by 50+ children who all want to shake my hand and share my hand with their brothers, sisters and friends. It takes me 5 minutes to get off my motorcycle as I shake and hold all the hands that are offered to me. The ASMITA staff finally chase the children away so that I can get off. I do not mind the attention at all.
This has been one of my favorite locations because of the children. I love coming here. The children are so friendly and respectful. They start cheering as I drive in. I am greeted as I have been before, surrounded by 50+ children who all want to shake my hand and share my hand with their brothers, sisters and friends. It takes me 5 minutes to get off my motorcycle as I shake and hold all the hands that are offered to me. The ASMITA staff finally chase the children away so that I can get off. I do not mind the attention at all.
At this location we are remembered as the ones that take their pictures. They are such hams and love posing for the photos and I find this Indian trait so endearing as I wait. It is cold by Varanasi standards, so the preparations are delayed and we do not start until 2:30pm, continuing until after 4:00pm. We eventually feed 195 children, plus 15 women who prepared the meal for the children.
The meal is the same menu as all of our Just One feedings: spicy vegetable curry, hot puris and a banana for dessert. One young boy drops his banana on the ground, and is left holding the peel. He tries to clean the dirt and small pebbles from the fruit, but only succeeds in spreading the dirt and lodging the pebbles deeper in the banana. I see that he wants to cry, frustrated by this spoiled treat. Noticing his despair, his elder sister lifts him up. I feel sure that he is going to eat the banana anyway, dirt and all but his sister changes that outcome. Instead, he is gathered in her arms, wrapped in her love and whisked away: the banana already a fading memory. This is the power of love and it is such a marvel to witness in action.
The meal is the same menu as all of our Just One feedings: spicy vegetable curry, hot puris and a banana for dessert. One young boy drops his banana on the ground, and is left holding the peel. He tries to clean the dirt and small pebbles from the fruit, but only succeeds in spreading the dirt and lodging the pebbles deeper in the banana. I see that he wants to cry, frustrated by this spoiled treat. Noticing his despair, his elder sister lifts him up. I feel sure that he is going to eat the banana anyway, dirt and all but his sister changes that outcome. Instead, he is gathered in her arms, wrapped in her love and whisked away: the banana already a fading memory. This is the power of love and it is such a marvel to witness in action.
Om Jai Jai Sai Maa!
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