Discover The Joy Of Giving This Daan Utsav

By Author: The Akshaya Patra Foundation
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Social service has existed in India since ancient times. Indians have always treated a guest with utmost respect by offering food, clothes and money – be it a close relative or a person in need. Therefore, they have long been aware of the auspiciousness and bliss that comes with helping the needy.

To keep the tradition alive, Daan Utsav was first observed in 2009. Ever since, it is celebrated every year, from 2 October to 8 October, covering the birth anniversary of M.K. Gandhi. Previously known as the Joy of Giving Week, it is a perfect time to fill your life with countless smiles, blessings and contentment by supporting the underprivileged.

The speciality of Daan Utsav is that it is celebrated with immense enthusiasm all over India despite lacking a mythological background. People from all walks of life, irrespective of their caste or religion, unite with a single purpose — GIVING.

Apart from the big cities, Daan Utsav has been celebrated in Bhuj (Gujarat), Sancoale (Goa), Sukma (Chattisgarh), Aluva (Kerala), Mysore (Karnataka) and Imphal (Manipur) and Jammu.

What goes on during Daan Utsav?
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In the last decade, millions of Indians have donated resources for the benefit of society during the festival. Individuals, corporates, Government sectors, NGOs and academic institution volunteers conduct awareness programmes and start fundraising drives for the marginalised people.

The general public and celebrities from across the nation take out time to play, dance and sing with people from low socioeconomic backgrounds in apartments, schools, colleges, communities and associations.

Domestic workers, flower sellers and washerwomen also give to those who may be facing more difficult times than them. They receive but they also give!

Even school children understand the meaning behind these activities and do not want to be left behind in experiencing the joy of giving. They bring whatever they can from their homes, and with the support of their parents, donate at campaigns held in schools.

If you were waiting for the perfect time to turn your kind intentions into actions by donating food, resources, money, time or skills to those who are not fortunate enough to access them, there may be no better opportunity than the festival of philanthropy!

As people across the world slowly recover from the pandemic, many people from low socioeconomic backgrounds still wait for help. Children lost access to nutrition and medical aid when healthcare centres and offline schooling stopped abruptly during the lockdown, to curb the spread of the virus. Working adults lost their only source of earning, leaving them with no choice but to force their children to work or get married.

Hence, Government efforts supplemented with public support is the need of the hour today if we want to achieve a self-reliant future for India in the coming years. So, let’s come together this Daan Utsav, to support well-researched programmes of NGOs that target vulnerable communities in India.

Donate to NGOs this Daav Utsav

During Daan Utsav, NGOs in India carry out various events and mobile camps to collect donations that are used to:

• organising therapies for children with special needs
• training youth with disabilities to help them get jobs
• raising funds to coach unemployed individuals
• feeding hungry and malnourished people
• treating patients in hospitals
• sponsoring items of women’s hygiene
• bringing opportunities in the fields of art and sports to the marginalised communities.

Akshaya Patra is a 21-year-old trusted NGO that focuses on providing food for the underprivileged children in India. What started as a small NGO in Bangalore, is now 65 kitchens strong, spread across 14 states and 2 Union Territories. Although its flagship programme feeds the children in Government Schools, it also nourishes pregnant women and nursing mothers, recognising the need for nutrition in the early years of child development.

As the NGO expanded, it began reaching out to more people who faced difficulties in accessing basic necessities every day. So, Akshaya Patra began running programmes for homeless mothers and digital learning initiatives for children from low-income sections of the population. It also supports disaster victims with ration kits and cooked food.

Below are a few programmes of Akshaya Patra you can support this Daan Utsav:

PM Poshan Abhiyaan: Akshaya Patra serves nutritious and hygienic school meals to 2 million children every day in India, as classroom hunger is one of the primary factors slowing down its development. The new model of the Mid-Day Meal Programme called the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN Abhiyaan) enables the young beneficiaries to even grow their own food. Experts frequently monitor their nutritional levels under this new scheme to prevent deficiencies and illnesses.

Anganwadi Feeding Programme: Healthy development of children can only be ensured if pregnant women and nursing mothers are well-nourished. Under the Anganwadi Feeding Programme, Akshaya Patra provides adequate nutrition to nursing and would-be mothers. It not only makes them strong during and after childbirth, but also develops immunity of their babies during the foundation years of their growth.

Homeless Mothers Feeding Programme: Under this programme, Akshaya Patra feeds mothers who are struggling to make ends meet without their husband and families. Most of these women are deprived of basic nutrition with no one to look after them. Hence, the NGO serves cooked meals to them every day to revive their hopes and dreams of a better future.

How can you contribute?

To become a part of Akshaya Patra’s donor family, you can choose the programme of your choice on the website. Alternatively, if you wish to donate for a programme close to your heart, you can also create a fundraising campaign with them. The NGO guarantees that all the funds collected will be directed to benefit its beneficiaries.

So, seize the opportunity this Daan Utsav! Donate to pull someone out of distress.
Spread the word among your close ones and set an example of benevolence and compassion.
Pledge to serve the underserved people and let their smiles light up your life!

I'm a social volunteer, lives in Bengaluru. I do work for NGOs to make society better. Currently I'm working for The Akshaya Patra Foundation. It's an NGO in India which provides wholesome nutritious mid-day meals to government school children to end classroom hunger. https://www.akshayapatra.org/