Bhav Yatra Update: Bangalore

Posted by Sheetal Vaidya on Aug 4, 2014

From Chaka Manga Katiel, we headed off for Bangalore. We passed another forest area, the Nagarhole sanctuary for elephants and other wild life. We spotted many elephants and had to take breaks to allow them to cross the road first! We reached Bangalore by evening, the city that holds lot of nostalgic moments of my past life when I was a resident for a couple of years.

The first couple of days were spent going down the memory lane. I experienced the passing of time like sand from our hands and we still hold on to a lot of memories and are stuck in time sometimes, all we need to do is let that pass too. Then came the happy day of Karma Kitchen at Vriksh. We had almost around 20 volunteers from all over. It was one big celebration. A beautiful Rangoli done at the entrance by décor team floored all the guests as they walked in.




We met this marvellous group who run “little more love” and are engaged in Random Acts of Kindness in Bangalore. It was started by a young enthusiast Nestin who got inspired to do something when at one Christmas they sang carols for seniors at a home and saw them smiling. We all found our common link of love and had conversations around how it has changed our lives.
We also had another special appearance by a person who is engaged in teaching football to underprivileged children. He has been featured in BangloreTEDx and has dreams of touching lives of as many kids as he can. As we were talking Amma (Kapila’s mom lovingly known as “Amma”-mother) was showering love in abundance by feeding us and gently getting everything in order before the guests arrived. Karmakitchen had all flavours of life love, laughter, small fights, smiles and ended with silence.

Our dear friends Tharanath and Harish took us clowning one day. We went to ‘Desire society’ a home for children affected with HIV. For next couple of hours smiled, laughed,hugged and there was happiness all around. These kids are from underprivileged background and they go through a lot of physical and emotional pain due to HIV. They suddenly get upset and cry in middle of a game and you would not know how to react. They get stomach pains or dizziness and back pains if they stand for too long or laugh too much. The average age is 8 years, the age that is bubbling to jump and do so much but is limited by these sudden bouts. As a team we engaged them in fun so that they will forget the pain for a while. Hats off to Harish and Tharanath for doing this every month from the heart and the kids wait to be with them.At the end of the day when I reflected on the whole exercise I had only tears and prayers to offer.

Posted by Sheetal Vaidya on Aug 4, 2014 | permalink


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Previous Comments
  • Ila Shukla wrote ...

    Hats off to all Volunteers, when I read your article in "BHAV JATRA Bangalore" yes, I had tears in my eye and I also pray for these kids. Sheetal thanks for sharing.

  • Komal Mehta wrote ...

    Indeed a journey of love! Thanks for sharing the wonderful experience Sheetal!

  • Amy Kaufman wrote ...

    How wonderful to bring joy to these children!We should all live every moment as if it could be our last, spreading love and kindness. Thank you for your contribution!