Feed one hungry man even once and see how much easier it is to contact the Divinity when you sit down for meditation that day. – Sri M.
Epitomizing the dignity of a simple meal offered in all humility to those ravaged by hunger, helplessness, and apathy, Annadaanam Seva is considered an act of great compassion and selfless service to all beings.
While groups of individuals have helped provide sustenance to the less privileged over the years since the inception of The Satsang Foundation (TSF), this crucial seva assumed a concrete form during the early days of COVID-19 in April 2020 with the launch of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM). Since then over 2.34 million meal equivalents comprising cooked meals and dry rations have helped support the basic nutritional needs of over 618,336 people through daily, weekly, monthly, and festive sevas.
Tracing our journey through the first 195 days of Year 2025, we celebrate the resilience of the recipients and the spirit of fraternity that unites us all irrevocably.
Festive beginnings in January
From 13 January to 28 February, as the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 unfolded at Prayagraj, The Satsang Foundation’s Yoga Dham Akhada offered a daily noon annadaanam seva and afternoon chai seva at its portals reaching out to over 22, 600 pilgrims, sadhus, local and migrant vendors, and visitors thronging the ghats for a holy dip at Triveni Sangam. Sri M himself led this annadaanam seva with utmost care, bowing before the recipients with great humility, and honoring the divine presence in each of them.
Providing sustained nutritional support at shelter homes, schools
Daily supply of fresh milk, the weekly Sunday seva of a sumptuous yet simple breakfast, and monthly dry rations continued to provide for the nutritional requirements of 45 youngsters and senior citizens residing at Vallabh Niketan Ashram, Bengaluru. Monthly dry rations were also offered at Namma Mane, Bengaluru through the 195 days assuring complete nutritional support for young girls aged between 8 and 18 years.
Daily-wage workers, pavement dwellers, and residents from low-income families in Lakshmipura at Gavipuram, South Bengaluru have continued to find succour in the weekly Sunday lunch at the premises of Adamya Chetna, an NGO.
For the 75 young boys and girls sheltered at Mathru Abhaya Foundation, Hyderabad, SSM volunteers have woven in art sessions, engaging discussions, and lively games in a shared space of comfort and trust during their visits to offer monthly dry ration supplies. Books, stationery supplies, and hygiene products have also helped support the holistic growth of the residents.
A daily breakfast seva from mid-January to mid-March for 32 Grade 10 students at Goshamahal Government School, Hyderabad, helped provide a healthy, vitalizing start to the day for them until their board exams.
Helping remote and underserved communities during summer
With the onset of summer in April and May, SSM volunteers in Kerala joined hands with the local administrative officers to implement outreach programs in remote, tribal settlements in Chonampara and Vaalipara in Kottoor, Trivandrum District and Mulli in Attapadi, Palakkad District to help combat malnutrition in children. A weekly supply of nourishing items such as ragi (finger millet), palm jaggery, and eggs has ensured better growth and development of the children.
A month’s supply of dry rations was also offered at SAFEE Foundation, Hyderabad to support 150 children attending summer classes at their community learning centres. Nutritious meals prepared at the in-house kitchen at the foundation helped fill in the lacunae of malnutrition for these children from impoverished communities.
Wholesome, home-cooked meals served with dignity to 150 civic workers and their families at Dasaram Basti, Hyderabad provided much-needed relief as they worked tirelessly in the heat to keep the city clean. At MGM Hospital, Warangal, Telangana over 700 recipients – caregivers of patients, patients, street vendors, pavement dwellers, and passers-by – were also supported with a filling meal and buttermilk in May and June.
Local residents, pavement dwellers, thirsty wayfarers, municipal workers, migrant workers, and gig workers at Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Nagpur received refreshing buttermilk as they went about their daily chores in the peak of summer.
Labour Day witnessed a unique yoga session at the Pune Railway Station for porters who each received a protein-rich mix of almonds, cashews, raisins, dates, and walnuts to overcome lack of nutrition due to irregular meal times.
Increasing the outreach with warmth and care during the monsoons
The Guruvaar Annadaanam Sevaoffered on Thursdays at Vasai, Lokhandwala, and Nala Sopara in Mumbai was launched in mid-June and has reached out to daily-wage workers, hungry passers-by, and others for whom a light meal of wada pav and a cup of tea can bring warmth and care.
At Apna Ashram Ghar, Bhopal a month’s supply of dry rations was offered in early July to cater to the specific and sustained health needs of 97 differently-abled residents who require constant assistance and care. SSM volunteers both young and old alike regaled the residents with a joyous musical session.
Celebrating festive occasions in July
On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima on 10 July, volunteers at Nagpur offered a festive annadaanam seva to 100 children sheltered at Nutan Bharat Vidyalaya. While at Madanapalle, the first anniversary celebration of the Adinath Sri Guru Mahavatar Babaji Temple consecration on 17 July included annadaanam seva for over 850 people – members of the local community, the less privileged, staff, and devotees. Sri M’s informal interactions with some of the recipients filled everyone with gratitude and joy as they commemorated this special occasion.
Madhu Ki Rasoi: Offering annadaanam seva through all seasons
Our community kitchen Madhu Ki Rasoi, named after Sri M’s deeksha name Sri Madhukar Nath, continues to offer daily meals at Mathura and Madanapalle. About 42,617 pilgrims, sadhus, and travelers have received freshly-prepared meals every evening at different locations in Mathura-Vrindavan since the past 180 days. Closer home at Madanapalle, the kitchen and dining hall are a sacred anna kshetra at the Ashram. Offering meals through the day to the 220 students of The Satsang Vidyalaya, the teaching staff, devotees who visit the Adinath Sri Guru Mahavatar Babaji Temple, visitors, and residents, this community kitchen has served 46,000 meals till mid-July.
The joy and gratitude of each recipient reminds us of our shared humanity and how one meal can make them feel seen, valued, and cared for.
To support our annadaanam seva initiative, please contribute
To join our teams of volunteers and experience the sheer joy of giving and sharing, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org.
