It is summer time in India. The temperature today is pushing 43 Celsius (110 Fahrenheit). The wind is whipping, and the dust is flying everywhere. It blows in the faces of the cooks as they prepare today's meal. As the children wait respectfully for their meal the wind blows the dust into their faces and later into their food. It is getting into everything. I am told that the winds portend the approach of even hotter weather to come.
The staff find a place in the shade to set up for the meals. The shade seems 20 degrees cooler and is an excellent place for the children to eat. As I look at the children saying their prayers before eating, I am stuck by the number of children with runny noses and nasal mucous. They are all so dirty too. I wonder whether this is the hot weather or the poverty. Living in Varanasi in the summer is very demanding on the body's cooling systems, especially the respiratory system.
The staff find a place in the shade to set up for the meals. The shade seems 20 degrees cooler and is an excellent place for the children to eat. As I look at the children saying their prayers before eating, I am stuck by the number of children with runny noses and nasal mucous. They are all so dirty too. I wonder whether this is the hot weather or the poverty. Living in Varanasi in the summer is very demanding on the body's cooling systems, especially the respiratory system.
Nonetheless, the children are very eager to share this feast. They are a quiet group, but their smiles and respectful behavior reflect their anticipation. I wonder if the silence is because of the intense heat or the presence of more parents than usual. Today Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust and ASMITA, our local partner, are targeting another new area, Kadhipur Village near Shivpur, which is just outside Varanasi on the road to the airport.
We serve a vegetable curry, puri, and a banana for dessert. All in all, 260 children are served. It is a long day because the children come sporadically from surrounding areas due to the heat and the walking distance. There are 5 rounds of servings for the children and a 6th is to the parents who are still in attendance (taking today's total fed well over 300).
Om Jai Jai Sai Maa!
We serve a vegetable curry, puri, and a banana for dessert. All in all, 260 children are served. It is a long day because the children come sporadically from surrounding areas due to the heat and the walking distance. There are 5 rounds of servings for the children and a 6th is to the parents who are still in attendance (taking today's total fed well over 300).
Om Jai Jai Sai Maa!
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