Seva Utsav & Annadaanam Seva 2025: Part III
Paying homage to Sri M’s spiritual tradition and his clarion call for river revival, volunteers were joined by our trusted partners from the Namami Goda Foundation and Jal Biradari as they offered annadaanam seva in unison at temples integral to the Nath Sampradaya and on the banks of Rivers Godavari and Narmada.
Nath Sampradaya Kshetras
Maharashtra
Trimbakeshwar
The temple town of Trimbakeshwar, near Kushawarta and the revered Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling, one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas in India is situated about 2 kms from the Sant Nivruttinath Maharaj Samadhi Mandir.
Khichadi and laapsi were lovingly distributed as prasadam to 600 devotees, pilgrims, and local residents. In a touching incident, two little boys selling conches near the temple recognized one of the volunteers from The Satsang Foundation’s Yogadham Akhada at Prayagraj during the MahaKumbh 2025 when daily annadaanam seva was offered there.
Alandi
The annadaanam seva continued at the next Nath Kshetra – the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi Mandir. Boxes filled with sweets and savories were offered to devotees as they left the sacred precincts of the temple. Bananas offered by a volunteer found their way to many more devotees, extending the seva graciously.
Shirdi
As pilgrims flocked towards the Sri Saibaba Samadhi Mandir, one of the most revered Nath temples in India, volunteers offered sweets and savories to children at a local anganwadi (kindergarten) and municipal school, completing the circle of important Nath Kshetras with utmost humility and devotion.
Reverence for Rivers
Maharashtra
Goda Ghat, Nashik
An evening annadaanam seva was offered on the banks of the sacred River Godavari near Ramtirth. This ancient ghat, associated with spiritual purification and devotion, provided a fitting setting as volunteers, devotees, and local residents gathered to partake in the distribution of khichadi and laapsi as prasadam. The gentle evening breeze and the warm glow of lamps created a serene and uplifting ambience.
Kopargaon
At Kopargaon, situated along the course of River Godavari, sweets and savories were offered to children at municipal school and women from marginalized communities, expressing respect and honor toward the most vulnerable in our rural societies.
Madhya Pradesh
Narmadapuram
The banks of the sacred River Narmada were chosen to offer a festive meal to sadhus, parikramavasis, devotees, and local residents on 9 November. Prayers to the life-giving river set a divine tone for the seva as volunteers offered freshly prepared and thoughtfully packed meals, ensuring that every individual was served with love, respect, and compassion.
The Seva Journey Continues – 7 to 9 November
A minute of kindness is more precious than a hundred years of intense austerities. – Sri M
Yoga sessions promoting a sense of wellbeing were held on 7 November at Ludhiana and 9 November at Pune. Children of Grades 6 to 8 at DRSP Vidya Mandir participated in an invigorating yoga session, learning the Surya Namaskar and Bhramari pranayama. New t-shirts and refreshing flavored milk and fruit juice brought much cheer to the children. An online session of simple asanas and pranayama at Pune infused participants with a sense of calm.
At the Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya in Dahisar, Mumbai, a graceful event of giving and sharing took place on 7 November. Students, beautifully dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire, welcomed volunteers with vermillion tilaks and showered them with flowers. Songs and inspirational conversations followed by an offering of new school uniforms, stationery, and sweets ushered in great happiness for the children.
A blood donation camp was held on 8 November in collaboration with NARCAOOD Physiotherapy and Rehab Centre and Shalinitai Meghe Hospital and Research Centre in Nagpur. Over five hours, 30 donors contributed life-saving blood — including rarer groups such as B negative and AB negative — helping to strengthen local hospital reserves and directly support patients in urgent need. At Madanapalle, Swaasthya Hospitals held a Health Screening Camp at Kuraparthy Sai Chaitanya Sravanthi Educational & Charitable Trust — bringing care and compassion to children and residents of the home.
The MyTree team of volunteers supported with green partners Hirva Swapna conducted a MyTree Academy Workshop on 8 November at Nalanda Public School, sensitizing children about soil-less plantation; small flowering plants; and creative ways to upcycle plastic waste. The team used discarded paint containers as tree cradles, reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable, affordable gardening.
Annadaanam seva continued to be offered at shelter homes at Pune and Hyderabad. Volunteers at Pune have been consistently supporting Sumati Balwan, a home for young girls from underserved communities, for over 5 years. Offering dry ration supplies, the volunteers helped support the daily nutritional requirements of the residents, combining energy-giving foods with proteins and natural sweeteners. The team at Hyderabad shared dry rations with the residents of Karunaradhem Charitable Trust, a home for seniors and younger individuals who have no family support. Interacting with the residents, the volunteers experienced moments of quiet reflection.
Cooked meals were offered at Akurdi Railway Station, Pune on 8 November to daily wage workers and travellers who often struggle to find a wholesome meal during the daily rush. Every serving carried not just nourishment for the body but also kindness for the soul. The sight of hungry children eating with joy, elders smiling after the first warm bite, and travellers pausing to share a meal reminded everyone kindness, when shared, nourishes both the giver and the receiver.
At Gate No.3 of G B Pant Hospital, Delhi, volunteers prepared for an annadaanam seva at half past noon on 8 November. After reciting the Brahmarapanam prayer from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, volunteers began the seva serving about 1,000 people without a pause: patients and their caregivers, commuters, daily wagers, rickshaw pullers, guards, hospital staff, pavement dwellers, women with infants, children, the old and the young.
Volunteers continued to offer the daily annadaanam seva at Byculla, Mumbai and the weekly breakfast seva at the Sai Mandir in Chunabhatti, working relentlessly through the entire work week. At Vashi Sector 7 in Navi Mumbai, volunteers offered a festive treat for marginalized communities residing in this neighborhood.
Also Read
Part I: Celebrating the Joy of Giving and Sharing
Part II: Founder’s Day – 6 November
