Banaras in March

07-03-2011, The students and volunteers from the Saraswati Education Center went to play a game of football. Since there is no play space in Varanasi to play a physical game, the leaders made a plan to use the sand across the ganga. We took a boat across the ganga and played for two hours. The students had a great time and learned the game of football. There were volunteers and visitors from France, Japan, and USA. There were a lot of videos and photos taken of the day. In all the pictures you can see how much fun the children and volunteers are having. You can also see the real children of Varanasi come alive while playing in a “real” play space. Our volunteers and children really enjoyed seeing the city of Varanasi from the other side of the ganga; it was the first time for the children of the center to take a boat across the ganga. The city looked beautiful and spiritual in the morning light. We also explained them why we call Varanasi by two others name Kashi, Banaras,

lucky children at the pooja ceremony

The literal meaning of Puja (Pooja) is adoration. It is an all-purpose term used to denote the many stages of ritual action that compose worship in Hindu culture. The derivative meaning is thought to be from Pu-chey, 'flower-action,' and refers to the act of offering flowers to the deity.

Puja is the ceremonial act of showing reverence to a God or Goddess through invocation, prayer, song, and ritual. An essential aspect of Puja is communion with the Divine. The worshiper believes that through this contact she or he has established direct contact with the deity. This contact is facilitated through an image: a sculpture, painting, or print. Through this Puja and the image, a Hindu worshiper invites the presence of the deity with his or her cosmic energy. And thus, in the eye of devotees, the icon then becomes the deity, whose presence is reaffirmed by the daily rituals of honoring and invocation.

The principal aim of any Puja is the feeling of personal contact with the deity. Generally, special communication with a deity is made through the intervention of a Brahmin Hindu priest during a strictly regulated ritual in the temple or home. During Puja, the Divine presence is invoked by which the devotee obtains blessings.

At the 8^th of March, we were celebrating this day with the children with a big and colorful buffet of fruits, vegetables and sweets. All the children, especially the girls, wore beautiful dresses and enjoyed the day.

2011 India,Varanasi non profit organization

2011 has started new energy, hope & dreams for poor and the marginalized, vulnerable sections, deprived castes of boys & girls. Working, selling, road, ghats walking kids are coming everyday in day and evening session, We have also celebrated Independence day with Japanese & Korean volunteers, they were here as donation base accommodation in Ashram. We have organized debate, handwriting and drawing compilation for increase talents... and after that we have distributed them foods as you can see in the pictures... it was good time ....
Foreigner social worker are coming for volunteering in Varanasi, India. Children are looking forward to ahead for the life. Children said heartily thanks all the volunteers who has visited our society in last year. We always invite volunteers for their"s energy, suggestion and support in these project. we are here and working these project the reason is you all peoples support.... please give to continue your kindness .

Donation Charity Program & Merry Christmas

We had a full and happy week in Varanasi with our children and volunteers. It has started with the peaceful music concert and donation bazaar on the river bank when musicians from different countries played music and many people gathered and spent nice time together drinking chai and soup. All the event was organized by the volunteers.
Few days later, we already started work on the Christmas party for the kids. 51 children were playing and dancing together with the volunteers, then prepared and ate happily chocolate balls and fruits salad.
2010 was good year many volunteer came and brought their smiles and energy. We hope for another inspiring year wish everybody A Happy New Year!

varanasi, India, bomb blast...and Barkha....

I am sending picture of Barkha with other kids and volunteer so that you could recognize...in this picture barkha is in left side with one other girl.
Here in Varanasi terrorist has attacked holy and powerful place on the bank of ganga evening pooja ceremony. By blessing of god two people has died and lots of people injured. In this accident our school two selling postcard girl has also effected name is Versha and Barkha, they usually go every morning sunrise time and evening pooja ceremony time and selling postcard and help in her family Bomb blast day also went, Versha has shortly injured but Barkha was admitted in hospital for continue 4 days because it effected her hand and head but now she is recovering but still now she fear because it was big accident happened with this innocent girl....
we are happy that all people are together in this circumstances and not fearing it is very good reply to all terrorist who tried to disturb Varanasi and whole world, that we never fear…
These days school is running everyday morning and evening time, evening time i teach all the kids and morning time volunteer are coming our last volunteer was form Israel.

Diwali festival with Children

we have celebrated Diwali festival with children and our two volunteers Sayaka from Japan and Uma from Korea, Children have learned music in Diwali festival singing and also played cracker we have used only light cracker, we have given message about the Diwali festival and said to the children it is festival of light and it teach us that how truth and light wins always so we all should to follow truth in our life....
Uma has organized a musical program and sat sang ( spiritual program ) for the children... you can see in the Video...
at current time children are coming at two times morning and evening time. totally 51 children are registered still now... we are waiting for the new volunteers.

Survey for slum"s children

In 1st picture our all volunteers with some slums children In 2nd picture Claudius and Annabel with children In 3rd picture Somit is teaching all kids.
In this last few days of this month we are doing survey work for working slums children and our 4 volunteers are also helping. their name are Claudius and Annabel from Germany, Kito Dias form Brazil, Linda from Netherlands. Our main aim was here for sending message in the society and everywhere that education is very important for the children and also we explained the kids that if they will take education then they would be more smart and everyone will give respect.
in first day of Survey we went morning time at Raja Ghat and we looked there some children are making clay pots for selling we all talked with them and they said they do't want to come because they have no money we explained them we are from NGO and we give free education and better life guideline after knowing these lines they excited and said please talked our father after discuss he has also agreed. Same day evening time we went near Dasaswamedh ghat and collected some kids who were selling postcard and begging. Our all Volunteers have given very good support with us . Thanks a lot for your kind help, still now children are coming and getting education morning and evening time.

India , Varanasi, slums area visited

Five days ago we visited the slum area and distributed food. We also taught them basic hygiene methods (simple washing techniques). With help from our Indian volunteer from Delhi we were able to teach personality development techniques, and have gained positive results from this one day programme. Washing hands with soap is not new but knowing the correct way of using soap and cleaning hands is a great experience," said Shubham, (one of our students who lives in the slums area ) he has now helped a number of slum children, including girls, showing them the correct way to go about it. "Proper hand washing requires soap and only a small amount of water, one should cover wet hands with soap, scrub all the surfaces and rinse thoroughly with running water. The hand parts, including palms, back and especially the area under the fingernails must be thoroughly cleaned," added the young lad like a trained student.
I hope our program will helpful for them and in the near future we plan on organizing more new programmes for changing their lifestyle. Just simple steps like this create a better life for the children and in turn a better future/prospects.

We currently have no volunteers and greatly welcome any help in any possible way. Any ideas or suggestions you may have are also helpful so please feel free to help in any way.

Right now the weather in Varanasi is little hot, anyway looking forward to any help in anyway and we will keep you posted.

Snake festival & Independence day Celebrated

This month we celebrated the Snake festival, the famous festival in Varanasi that honors the snake part of Shiva, as well as Independence Day with good energy and lots of fun.

1st picture - Volunteers are distributing clothes to children 2nd picture - Volunteers are distributing biscuits, candy, pens, and pencils
3rd picture - We are all singing the national anthem
4th picture - Volunteers are distributing clothes to children 5th picture - The children are taking part in the program
6th picture - Snake man is showing the game of the snake for the Snake Festival

For the last 2 weeks our volunteers from France, Vincent & Capucine, have given very important, meaningful time and energy to the kids. At the present time we have no volunteers. The program continues on with children coming in the morning and also afternoon. Your support and encouragement is greatly appreciated.