7^th June 2021, Mumbai: ISKCON has been at the forefront of charity and social welfare through their various temples across the city and their ‘Food for Life’ is one such significant initiative that aims at fighting hunger with nutritious, Satvik meals served to the underprivileged in its vicinity. ISKCON’s Bhiwandi temple is leading one such significant ‘Food For Life’ program, serving up to 1000 free meals per day, every day, since March 2020, to the daily wage workers and warehouse labourers, who are battling unemployment and poverty during COVID. Further, the meals prepared by the temple devotees on a daily basis, are hygienic, and made using Satvik ingredients, ensuring it nourishes not only the body but also the mind and soul! In addition to the free meals on a daily basis, the temple has also been conducting online sessions for stress and mental health management through meditations, chanting, and discourses on Bhagvad Gita, helping people find peace in these chaotic times.

This is not the first time that ISKCON has taken the initiate to help and support those in need. ISKCON or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is based on the ethos of imbibing the Krishna Philosophy in daily life, putting into practice the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita and leading a Vedic lifestyle, while serving those in need. In line with this ethos, since 1966, ISKCON worldwide has already distributed over 3 Billion free meals and actively served and supported people during various natural calamities or other crisis, be it earthquakes, hurricanes, or wars to famine etc.

Speaking about the various initiatives, Sri Narottam Priya Das, who has been at the helm of these activities at ISKCON Bhiwandi, said, “Our revered Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, and the inspiration behind Food for Life initiative, Srila Prabhupada, had stated that no one within ten miles of an ISKCON temple should go hungry. Since then, ISKCON devotees worldwide have been serving people with free, nutritious and Satvik food at temple premises, mobile van services, and dedicated community relief programs, across cities around the world, to ensure that we can satisfy not only the hunger but also the spiritual need of their mind and soul! ‘Food For Life’ is also the world’s largest vegetarian food distribution program, serving millions of meals daily, with projects in over 60 countries. Currently, in the backdrop of the global pandemic, ISKCON has already distributed over 15 Crore free meals across the country in the past 14 months, and continues to do so through its various locations. We at ISKCON Bhiwandi are dedicated to doing our bit for the needy, and serve Satvik, meals, made in spiritual environment, to the families of daily wage workers and laborers in and around Bhiwandi. We trust that during these crucial times, it is service to humanity and prayers to almighty that can help us tide over all hurdles.”

The temple has also been conducting several online sessions on mental health management through meditations and chanting, based on the Bhagvad Gita, to help people spiritually. These courses are open to all and come at nominal fees, to ensure spiritual help is not restricted to a few people but is made available to the masses! Further, they also conduct special courses for COVID frontline warriors, professionals battling WFH woes and job uncertainty and students struggling with mental health issues, helping them re-connect with themselves and discover peace through meditation and chanting the name of Krishna!