In conjunction with the Navarathiri festival, The Gnananandam Mission Singapore Chapter Ltd donated care packs (consisting of everyday basic necessity items) to 57 needy women and 29 children.
The care packs were given to the Anglican Family Center; FAST, an organization to help foreign domestic workers in a vulnerable situation; and the Star Shelter, run by Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO).
As part of Project Kriya Shakthi the organisation wanted to support and empower women, especially vulnerable women, in need. The Mission under the guidance of its Pontiff, His Holiness Sri Niranjanananda Giri Swamigal, and with the help of its volunteers, distributed the items to women residing in three centres run as refugees for women fleeing domestic abuse and those left destitute as domestic workers.
The residents are referred to these shelters by government agencies, as a result of domestic abuse or other similar vulnerability. Each care pack consisted of everyday necessities such as shower gel, shampoo, nail polish, lip balm, hand cream as well as individually packed biscuits and carton drinks including recreational toys for the children.
Navarathri is a Hindu festival spanning 9 nights celebrating the Divine Mother in her many forms. In reality, as our Pontiff often says, it is the celebration of the Divine in women. It propagates gender equality and the power of women, the many sacrifices and sufferings she takes on to nurture all around her and the fact that it is the female gender in all living creatures that can give birth to progeny and sustain the Divine Creation. Gnananandam Mission Singapore Chapter Ltd is the Singapore branch of Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam, a worldwide organization giving spiritual guidance, promoting culture and carrying out social welfare services across several countries spanning almost all the continents.
The organisation is spearheaded by His Holiness Sri Niranjanananda Giri Swamigal, the Pontiff of Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam. The Mission’s objectives in Singapore includes spreading the teachings of HH Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Jagathguru Sri Gnanananda Giri Swamigal and the lineage of Gurus directly descendant from Him and His chief disciple, to rejuvenate true Advaitha philosophy (All is One) and to serve all humanity as well as all sentient beings without any discrimination whatsoever. Acceptance of all living beings and selfless service to all, rendered with humility, are the core foundation of Sanathana Dharma or Hinduism as it is widely known.
As the Pontiff and the organisation’s overall head, HH Holiness Sri Niranjanananda Giri Swamigal said “We are all born to reflect God’s Love and Compassion to every sentient being in Creation. Therefore whenever a person acts selflessly in the service of others, that act is born of God. Gnananandam Mission Singapore Chapter Ltd has been created to reflect this in every aspect of it’s functioning. This initiative to help vulnerable women and domestic workers is akin to honouring the Divine Mother Herself for it is in Its Creation that The Supreme resides. Devotion to God can take many forms, whether it be ritualistic, music led or disciplined self denial. But none of it leads to fruition without the ethos to serve God by serving all in His Creation and through that, getting rid of our own negative qualities, learning to be humble and accepting of all. May my Guru Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Jagathguru Sri Gnanananda Giri Swamigal bless this organisation to continue its journey with many such initiatives to serve selflessly and bring hope and relief to the people of Singapore and the world.”
Receiving the care packages from Gnananandam Mission Singapore Chapter Ltd, the Anglican Family Centre’s Operations Supervisor Mr Simon Law said, “Thank you so much for the blessing from Gnananandam Mission Singapore Chapter Ltd. The items blessed are useful items that the residents use daily. The toys and sports equipment are also something the children looked forward to as well. The items are well thought through and very nicely packaged. We are sure they are more than happy to receive them.”
The Social Service Executive of the Star Shelter, Ms Lydia Soh, conveyed the happiness of the residents when they received the care packages, “We have given the items to some of the residents. Others will receive theirs a bit later when they have returned from work. They are very appreciative of the gifts and we are planning to invite one of our Hindu residents to share with the rest about Navarathri. The residents are very excited to learn about this festival. The [little] boys are also very happy with the presents! Thank you for thinking of our residents during this period. We are grateful for your support!”.
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