Celebrate resilience and compassion with Braj Bhumi Group as they nourish thousands through crisis, inspiring hope amidst a world in shut down. Explore their remarkable journey and discover the transformative power of community service.
Every year, just 100 miles southwest of Delhi, the bustling holy town of Vrindavan hosts millions of pilgrims amidst its thousands of residents who serve the land, live simply and are dedicated to the worship of God. It was March 2020, just around the time of Holi, the famous color throwing festival of spring. Police officers were posting signs on shop doors and locals were checking their smartphones in disbelief, as they watched the entire world shut down in a handful of hours. The narrow alleyways and dusty streets that were once filled with throngs of people singing and dancing, became barren and silent. The fruit and vegetable vendors disappeared, and the thousands of temple doors were locked.
Before the pandemic, an elder monk whom the locals affectionately call Prabhuji, was freely feeding a couple hundred locals a 6-course lunch meal every day at his guru’s ashram. Since 1977, his spiritual teacher, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja, had given him the responsibility to feed the general people at large in whatever capacity he was able. From that time onwards, that service has never been interrupted.
On the day of the lockdown, one of the assistant cooks approached Prabhuji shyly and explained that it was no longer possible for them to invite people into the building to eat, and that they would have to shut down all operations and buy less vegetables. Hearing this news, Prabhuji immediately retorted, “No. We will buy four times more vegetables. We will cook for as many people as possible. We will not stop our program.”
And from that day, a line would form outside for lunch every day, with locals’ faces covered in their cloths and masks, waiting to receive a meal which they kept in a container or bag to take home to their families and savor for the day. Each day more and more would gather outside with folded hands and weary smiles. They were so grateful that someone was still thinking about them. Acquiring vegetables, sustaining an income and keeping a roof over their children was not easy with the disappearance of pilgrims, tourists and jobs. Many such persons lived hand to mouth, their homes very bleak. The lines rapidly grew to thousands. The growing number of people waiting outside the building soon drew the attention of the local police. When they realized how nicely and safely the volunteers were serving the community, they requested that the ashram also cook for the police force and the local hospital.
Prabhuji made it his responsibility to feed as many as he could in Braj, the area surrounding Vrindavan and other nearby heritage sites, totaling 2,500 sq. km. Some of the ashram volunteers were sent out to bring food to remote villages of Braj and feed families in need. When they arrived in these rural neighborhoods, many of the mothers were crying and so thankful that someone had come to help them. Some of them had not eaten in three days.
Although restrictions have slackened and life in Braj is coming back to normalcy, our food distribution program has relentlessly continued. Every day without fail, Prabhuji and the dedicated team cooks for thousands on large woks, over firewood stoves. Fifty or so volunteers from around the world cut vegetables, peel potatoes, roll chapatti bread, and wash rice daily. The local community is still as eager and grateful for the daily meals we distribute.
Traditionally, in the ancient stories of Braj, people live alongside one another like family, knowing that all beings are part of divinity, including the plants and the animals. They even see God as a child that must also be loved, cared for and fed, rather than thinking He must provide for all their needs. It is the idea that by developing love for one another through service, we become more blissful and fulfilled. When we truly give ourselves to a higher purpose, our basic needs and desires are automatically satisfied, and we can live an abundant and rich life that we can relish with others. In Braj, a large part of showing that love and respect is through sharing food, which is cooked fresh and with a loving intention.
This is the leadership and ethic that we believe in and live by at Braj Bhumi Group. Braj Bhumi has kept the culture of Braj alive in this modern age. Our non-profit was incorporated in 2008, as a vehicle to share the projects that are going on in Braj more widely, giving the chance to people from around the world to participate. We now serve meals to over 6,000 people a day, feed street monkeys and cows, provide education to underprivileged children and preserve heritage sites and historical literatures in Braj. Many of those who have volunteered or have been touched in some way by Prabhuji and the volunteers at Braj Bhumi Group, are making changes in their lives, wherever they live, making it a point to feed their neighbors and those in need, to pay attention to their community, knowing that they will receive so much more in their life by doing so.
If you too would like to be part of this sincere project, please consider giving a monthly donation. We will continue to update our readers on the milestones we accomplish ever quarter.
To learn more or visit Braj, please contact Malini Taneja, at malinitaneja@gmail.com.
