Celebrate for a Cause

The morning air felt fresher and newer on 15th August 1947. It was the first day that India was independent, after decades of being suppressed under the rule of the British Government. India celebrates this day as Independence Day with great patriotism and joy.

On Independence day, the Prime Minister of India hoists the flag at Red Fort. Honouring all the freedom fighters on this day, August 15th is declared as a national holiday in India. However, government offices, schools and colleges function for 2-3 hours to celebrate this day with great enthusiasm. The national flag is unfurled in the premises, followed by the singing of the national anthem, patriotic songs and dance performances of children.

History of Independence Day

The British Government wanted to end its rule in India in June 1948. But, due to the huge loss of capital and revenue, it was rescheduled by a year to 1947. After Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech on the midnight of 14th August 1947, India was a free nation.

Celebrating 78 years of its freedom, India still remembers its fighters and pays a tribute to the young people who fought then.

Young children are the flagbearers of an optimistic tomorrow.

Today, India is the second-largest country with a large and young labour force.

Children will be the next working group when they get the right amount of education that will direct them to reach their goals. In order to encourage more children to study and complete their education, the Government of India came up with many initiatives, like PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Programme). According to this programme, mid-day meals (MDM) would be provided to children studying in government and government-aided schools. India runs the largest school feeding programme and many NGOs in India implement the Programme.

In order to improve the nutritional status of children, The Akshaya Patra Foundation started feeding school meals to 1,500 children in 2000 and is recognised as the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programme for feeding 2.2 million children every day. By providing school meals, children gain the confidence to dream.

Raksha Bandhan is a Sanskrit word where ‘Raksha’ means protection and ‘Bandhan’ means relationship. It is an age-old tradition that is observed in India to celebrate the strong bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, a sister ties an amulet called ‘rakhi’ on the wrist of her brother’s wrist as a symbol of seeking protection and care. These days, sisters also take up the role of a protective brother, truly making this day a celebration of sibling-bond.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month – Shraavana. This year, it will be celebrated in India on 3rd August. There are many stories behind the reason for celebrating this day. All the stories strongly iterate only one promise – the promise to protect.

Story of Draupadi and Krishna
This story dates back to the epic Mahabharata. On one Makar Sankranti, Krishna was cutting sugarcane when he accidentally cut his finger. His wife, Rukmini, sent an official to get first aid. In the meantime, Draupadi reacting with her quick instincts, tore a bit of her saree and tied his cut finger to reduce the bleeding. Krishna promised in return, to help her when she was in need.

The story of Yama and Yamuna
According to one legend, Yamuna (a river in India) tied a rakhi to the Lord of death – Yama, who in turn granted her immortality. Yama was so moved by this gesture that he declared that any brother who has a rakhi tied by his sister and has offered protection in return, will also become immortal.

Story of Karnavati and Humayun
Another famous version of the history of this festival is that of Karnavati and Emperor Humayun. After defeating Vikramjeet once, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Mewar for the second time while the Queen Karnavati started seeking for support from other kingdoms. In the meantime, she sent a rakhi and wrote a letter to Emperor Humayan in the hope of support to protect her kingdom. Respecting the thread that Karnavati had sent, Humayun immediately sent his army to protect her.

Raksha Bandhan is a promise of protecting each other from all troubles and bringing security. Children need our support the most. They need protection in the form of food, shelter, clothes and education. There are many Indian NGOs that work towards securing the future of children.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian NGO that supports children hailing from economically-challenged sections of the society, by feeding them with unlimited food for education. The Foundation is recognised as the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programme and feeds 1.8 million children every single day. It serves mid-day meals to children studying in 19,039 Government and Government-aided schools spread across 12 States and 2 Union Territories of India.

This Raksha Bandhan, secure the present and future of children by providing them regular school meals and education. Your support will make this special day even more meaningful. 

Imagine how life was in school.
Every problem seemed little when you had your friends to share your joy and sadness.

A study found that friendships provide social support and companionship, which can significantly predict the well-being and protect against mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Friendship Day honours such relationships that are strong and unbreakable. It is celebrated across the globe on different days to encourage global bonding. In India, it is observed on the first Sunday of August. (In 2024, it will be celebrated in India this year on 4th August.) This is the day when one can see teenagers and children tying threads and bands to each other, as a mark of celebrating the promise of long-lasting friendship.

Friendship Day is a day celebrated to uphold this special bond. Why? Because friends have a special place in our lives.

Friendships mature according to our age; but as children, it is all about sharing likes or dislikes and being with each other.

83% of children regularly spend time with close friends in schools.

Schools are a place where friends support you and help make the right choice and decision, no matter what.

Here is a story of how friendship supports Purvi Vadapudi, a 12-year-old studying in 6th standard from The the Government Higher Primary School (G.H.P.S) Ramalingeshwara Nagar, Hubballi, Karnataka.

Purvi is adored by everyone, owing to her helpful nature and positive attitude towards situations. Pavitra Subhash, one of Purvi’s classmates, says, “Although she is our friend, it feels that we are more like sisters. She is there for us and helps us whenever we need it. She habitually corrects me whenever I make a mistake while studying and revising. Even though she is a topper in class and great in academics, she is very humble.”

Having such friends gives many reasons to be happy and the joy is shared when they connect over mid-day meals served in school. This Friendship Day, celebrate friendships that have helped you surpass difficult times and donate in the hope that many such friendships surface through the medium of food.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO that feeds mid-day meals to children studying in government and government-aided schools. When you celebrate for a cause and donate online, you become the bridge forprovide children an avenue to socialise and make friends while they savour their daily school meals.

Tie a virtual friendship band with your support. Spread the joy of meals this Friendship Day!
Celebrate with Akshaya Patra.

5th June is celebrated as World Environment Day every year since 1972. With this year’s theme – Time for Nature, you can give back to the environment with your donation towards children’s mid-day meals. How? With every meal preparation, there is some amount of electricity and gas that is saved. Akshaya Patra serves meals to 1.8 million children every day. So, imagine how much you will be able to save with your donation towards Akshaya Patra!

With recent times being difficult for planet Earth, celebrating World Environment Day to raise awareness about how to take care of our surroundings and our fellow Earthlings is very important and urgent. On 5th June every year, World Environment Day is celebrated in many ways which encourages worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment. According to United Nations, this year’s theme is, ‘Time for Nature’ with a focus on supporting life on Earth and human development.

Over 100 countries celebrate World Environment Day since 1972 when 5th June was decided as World Environment Day. Though the theme changes every year, from sustainable consumption to the illegal trade in wildlife, millions of people have taken part every year to sow the seeds of change.

In these exceptional times where nature is sending us a message, we must care for nature while we take care for ourselves.

The environment we live in, is a part of our lives; every individual’s actions have significant impact on the environment.

As a part of giving back to the environment, many NGOs in India have come forward to start tree plantation drives, cleaning of surroundings, rescuing and treating injured animals, cleaning up the city’s beaches, curbing environmental pollution, etc.

To do its best in saving the planet and the society, The Akshaya Patra Foundation has adopted eco-friendly methods in its day-to-day operations of serving mid-day meals. The Foundation makes use of the following:

Bio Gas Plants
Nothing really goes for a waste at Akshaya Patra kitchens. The bio gas plants use waste food and vegetable wastes to convert them into gas for fuelling the burners for cooking stoves used in preparing the meals. This process helps in converting enormous amounts of wastes into green fuel.

Akshaya Patra kitchens at Ballari, H.K. Hill, Nathdwara, Lucknow, Vrindavan, Narsingi, Kandi, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Surat, Silvassa, Vadodara and Bhuj, use bio gas plants.

These plants also produce large volumes of enriched organic manure that act as a supplement for chemical fertilizers.

Solar Panels
Solar panels are installed in kitchens to reduce dependency on the consumption of grid electricity. This directly helps in conservation of natural resources used for generating electrical power.

Solar panels are installed in Hubbali, Ballari, Mangalagiri, Jigani, V.K. Hill, Udaipur, Ajmer, Nathdwara, Jaipur, Lucknow, Vrindavan, Narsingi, Kandi, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Surat, Silvassa and Vadodara.

Along with the above initiatives, other eco-friendly technologies like ReFlex Reverse Osmosys System, effluent treatment plants, Reed bed plants are also adopted in different Akshaya Patra kitchens.

How can you act on this World Environment Day?
As an individual, you can plant more trees, use re-usable or cloth bags, use renewable energies wherever possible, as an act of giving back to nature. When you donate to NGO’s like Akshaya Patra, you can water two plants with one hose; you are giving back to nature by supporting its eco-friendly initiatives and also giving back to the society by taking care of the next generation.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Honour your mother by nourishing and nurturing children studying in Government and Government-aided schools. Donate to The Akshaya Patra Foundation to give them meals packed with nutrition. These meals help children grow physically, mentally and emotionally to become sentient being like you.

This World Mother’s Day, let us uphold the virtues of motherhood by being caring, loving, and kind towards children for whom a plate full of food opens up the gates to school and to a world of hope and opportunities. On this Mother’s Day, be as generous as your mother; donate wholesome and healthy meals to children who study in Government and Government-aided schools. Feed a child as a mark of honour to your mother.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is recognised as the world’s largest NGO-run Midday Meal Programme. On a daily basis, it feeds 18,00,907 children hailing from challenging backgrounds. It serves meals in 19,039 schools spread across 52 locations in 12 States and 2 Union Territories. The school meals served to children are prepared and served with great care and affection like how mothers would serve meals to their children.

What is so special about the school meals prepared by Akshaya Patra?
The school meals prepared by The Akshaya Patra Foundation takes care of the nutritional requirement of children by following the guidelines provided by the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme With Akshaya Patra’s meals, the beneficiary children get the right amount of calories, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. Akshaya Patra’s cyclical menu ensure that children get the adequate amount of nourishment from their meals and its locally palatable meals make sure that children enjoy the local cuisines. For example, rice is served in the southern regions of India and roti and puris are served in North India.

What goes into Akshaya Patra’s meals?
No matter in which state meals are served, whether it is Gujarat, Karnataka or Odisha, the ingredients used in preparing meals help in boosting health and development of children.

WHOLE WHEAT
Whole wheat being the healthier ingredient compared to refined flour like maida is used in preparing rotis. This amplifies energy levels of children and enables them to actively participate in classroom learning, sports and co-curricular activities.

LENTILS
Lentils like dal are packed with massive amounts of proteins that boost their development.

GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES
Green leafy vegetables are the best source of fibre, minerals like iron and calcium, and vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin K.

VEGETABLES
Vegetables like carrots, beans, pumpkin, cabbage, radish, potato are used in preparations of school meals every day in different locations to enrich children with the right amount of carbohydrates, fats, minerals, Vitamins – A, B, C, D, K, etc.

The combinations of vegetables along with rice or roti put together make up for a wholesome meal, just like the way mothers would serve it to their children.

This Mother’s Day, honour your mother by taking up the onus to feed children and giving them a year full of happiness.

This Akshaya Tritiya, do something for the needy and let the pot of unlimited goodness and generosity work in your favour. Donate towards The Akshaya Patra Foundation and help in the feeding of 1.8 million children every single day. Your contribution of ₹1100 can feed a child for an entire academic year where they can concentrate in class rather than being distracted because of a hungry stomach. Every single rupee is utilised towards the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and is tax exempted.

Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be very auspicious for Hindus and Jains alike in India and Nepal. According to the Hindu calendar, it falls on the third lunar day of Vaishaka month and signifies ‘third day of unending prosperity.’ In Sanskrit, ‘A’ means not and ‘kshaya’ ending or erode, ‘Akshaya’ means never ending, unlimited or something that will never diminish.

Akshaya Tritiya is generally celebrated these days by buying gold as it is a sign of prosperity and by offering Pooja to Goddess Lakshmi, who is the bestowal of wealth. This day holds many religious significances:

• It is believed to be the day Lord Parashurama (one of the ten Dashavataras of Lord Vishnu) was born.
• It is the first day of Treta Yuga that begins after Satya Yuga.
• On this day, after many years, Sudama visited his long-lost childhood friend, Lord Krishna. Sudama was suffering  from great poverty, instead of coming bare-handed, he offered the simplest form of food, Aval or puffed rice packed by his wife to Lord Krishna, who in turn blessed him with plenty of wealth and happiness.
• It is the day that the great sage, Veda Vyasa started writing the Mahabharata.
• This auspicious day is also celebrated as the day when Holy Ganges descended upon the Earth.
• The annual Rath Yatra in Puri Jagannath begins on this day.
• Akshaya Tritiya is the day when the Pandavas received the gift of ‘Akshaya Patra’- the inexhaustible vessel of food, during their period of exile.

Like how the Pandavas needed food for their journey, there are millions of children in India who need food to help them walk on the path that leads towards achieving their dreams and goals. Understanding this need of children, The Akshaya Patra Foundation began its journey of feeding ‘unlimited food for education’ by implementing Indian Government’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

As on today, Akshaya Patra reaches:In Hinduism, it is believed that the whole day of Akshaya Tritya is auspicious and no special mahuratham is needed to perform any auspicious work. This day is regarded as Sarve Siddha mahuratham. It is a great belief that making charity donations, feeding the needy and sponsoring education of children who are in need, relieves you from trouble and helps you walk on the path of prosperity and happiness. If the whole day is auspicious, then what better way than celebrating it in the right manner that it is meant to be known for? Annadanam on this day brings great benefits to the donors.

Donate online towards The Akshaya Patra Foundation on this Akshaya Tritiya which helps in feeding wholesome school meals for children studying in Government schools and Government-aided schools. It aims to feed 5 million children by 2025 with the Mid-Day Meal Programme, all across India. Every donation ensures that a child’s future is secure and that makes them capable of achieving what they dream of becoming.

Help little children embark on the voyage to achieve their dreams.
Donate towards school meals of children & help them begin their journey.

7th April of every year is celebrated as World Health Day to ensure good health of everybody around the world. Many NGOs work for the betterment of people and children living in challenging socio-economic conditions. Donations made towards The Akshaya Patra Foundation provides healthy and wholesome mid-day meals to children on all school days along with making you eligible for tax deduction.

Flashback to a few years before the year 1948
The whole world was concerned about vector-borne diseases spreading in large numbers. More than half the world’s population was at the risk of diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever that continued to impact the world’s poor population. In the year 1948, The World Health Organization (WHO) was formed.

Year: 1950; Geneva
A World Health Assembly was held for the first time in the history of mankind with 61 Nations who had agreed to sign the charter of WHO. The assembly decided that 7th April would be celebrated as World Health Day to commemorate the date in which the WHO constitution had officially come into force in 1948.

Back to 2020
Today, we may not have many fatalities due to vector-borne disease, they are under check since today’s generation is a little more conscious and aware about the importance of maintaining cleanliness, hygiene and health.Thanks to many NGOs in India and around the world that constantly work in either educating people, providing facilities to maintain hygiene or to provide meals that helps them stay healthy.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such non-profit organisation that works towards the cause ‘Food for Education’ of children who study in Government and Government-aided schools. It started feeding children in the year 2000 and has been relentlessly serving healthy mid-day meals by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme.On this World Health Day celebrated on 7th April 2020, let us pledge to donate to NGO’s like Akshaya Patra that works towards improving overall health of children who hail from socio-economically challenging backgrounds.

Benefits of your donation towards Akshaya Patra
Your contribution of ₹1100 ensures that a child is served with healthy and nutritious meals for an entire academic year. The benefits of making contributions towards Akshaya Patra are:
• Help in physical and cognitive development of children.
• Increase in number of children attending school.
• Helps in reducing the school drop-out rates.
• Improves nutritional levels in children consuming mid-day meals.
• Helps children in graduating from school and step towards their dreams.
• A sense of joy and satisfaction for having contributed towards the betterment of children
• Makes you eligible to receive tax deductions and your tax exempted deductions provide wholesome meals like roti, dal, rice, sambar and sabji and much more to school children.

Your donations significantly turn around lives of children for the better. So, on this World Health Day, how many lives will you change?

Support generously towards enhancing lives of children!

Republic Day is celebrated with the same enthusiasm in different states and cities across India. Patriotism gleams on our faces when we hear National Anthem or National Songs played on the loudspeakers of our colonies or schools. Let us join hands to improve the situation of our future generation by feeding them with healthy and nutritious meals.

Hoisting of the Indian Flag stirs patriotism within every individual who stands and salutes at the flag unfurling. The slogan ‘Bharath Maata Ki Jai!’ reverberates in the air reminding us all that we are one united Nation! No matter what divides us as individuals, be it caste, creed, sect or religion, there is one thing that binds us together; and that is our Unity!

Remember the days in school when you would have cultural activities and had to participate in the school march past when there was a flag hoisting ceremony? Remember singing Vande Maataram with great zeal and enthusiasm? During those tender stages of our lives, we were taught important values of life – the strength of Unity and Humanity.

Unity makes us one single entity. As human beings it is deep engraved in our blood and veins to help our kind. Though the times have changed with the coming of the new era, humanity is still alive in each and every one of us. It is just a matter of stirring that part of our conscience.

Paint your life with UNITY with Akshaya Patra
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO in India that brings people together as one single unit for the cause of ‘food for education’. It started functioning in the year 2000 and has grown exponentially in the past 19 years. It works with the motto that ‘no child shall be deprived of education because of hunger’. This Republic Day, join hands with Akshaya Patra and step up in support of children of the nation.

What is Akshaya Patra?
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is registered as a not-for-profit organisation under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. It feeds 18,02,517 school mid-day meals to children on a daily basis. Since the time of inception of this Foundation, with the efforts of people who want to stand up as one unit for a cause that the NGO has been working continuously towards, it has spread itself across 51 locations in 12 States and 2 Union Territories.

There are thousands and millions of school children who are seeking out help on this Republic Day. Smiles on their faces know no bounds when you donate for their mid-day meals. Make this remarkable day, a significant one in your and children’s lives. You can be the reason for their enthusiasm to come back to schools every single day. Sponsor a child’s meal and contribute towards the growth of our country – they are our future generation!

Feed school meals to 1.8 million children!
DONATE & make them FUTURE-READY!

Relive the days of your childhood. During this season, recollect the beautiful rangolis that would decorate the entrance of our homes; remember competing with your friends in the neighbourhood, to check whose kites flew higher in the sky? The whiff of mixed smells of sweet, sour and snacks would leave us drooling for the feast.

During the times of our ancestors, farmers tilled their land, sowed seeds, watered the plants and then harvested the fully-grown crops. This would provide a great amount of yield and some quantity of the fresh yield would be used to cook meals at farmers’ homes. It was the harvest of a new season, which meant the beginning of New Year! This also was the time of joy and celebration!

Makar Sankranti is celebrated across different states of India and is known by various names – Suggi, Pongal, Magha Saaji, Lohri, Uttarayan, Magh Bihu and many more.

Let us celebrate this season by sharing our happiness with children who come from challenging backgrounds. The age-old tradition of giving is still prevalent across all parts of India. So, this season, carry the tradition forward. Expand the warmth of this season to children who need it. Donate, because tiny hearts should eat nutritious food to grow.

How can you make a difference?
Celebrate this Makar Sankranti with 1.8 million beneficiaries of The Akshaya Patra Foundation. This NGO in India feeds children with mid-day meals on all school days of the year thereby progressing towards its vision “No child shall be deprived of education because of hunger”.

Akshaya Patra has concentrated all its efforts into providing mid-day meals to school children on every day of school. It aims at providing wholesome and healthy food so that school children get the right amount of nutrition required for their overall development. As of today, it is present across 12 States and 2 Union Territories of India. It has 51 kitchens that serve freshly cooked, locally palatable wholesome meals to 1.8 million children.

Akshaya Patra is a registered NGO, so all your generous contributions towards school meals of children qualify as tax deductible donations under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

Let this harvest season bring in joy to children’s lives like the way kites brought joys into ours.

May this year’s harvest be served on the plates of children!
Soar above the rest with your donations!

Christmas is here and all of us are busy decorating our houses, buying gifts, and prepping up for the celebration. This Christmas, add joy in the lives of needy children too and give a whole new meaning to your celebrations. This Christmas, celebrate with Akshaya Patra by gifting school meals to little children.

Christmas is the season of giving and spreading joy. Homes are filled with excited family members and relatives. Houses are adorned with Christmas tree laden with colourful decorative and lights. The colours – green, red, and white engulfs us all in the festive mood. We gift our near and dear ones and many of us also play games like Secret Santa.

The joy of giving need not necessarily mean materialistic gifts. Joy can be experienced by indulging in charitable activities too. Charity in itself gives a whole new meaning to celebrations. This Christmas, let there be no bounds to your joy of giving. Celebrate with Akshaya Patra by gifting school meals to children for whom receiving a plate full of hot, nutritious, and tasty meal on school days is the biggest joy.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO in India providing daily mid-day meals to school children. Currently, it serves wholesome and nutritious meals to 18,02,517 children across 51 locations in 12 States and 2 Union Territories of India, on all school days. The Foundation has been in the service of children for the past 19 years and aims to feed 50 lakh school children by 2025. When you donate to this mid-day meal NGO, you become a ray of hope for lakhs of determined children who wants to attend school regularly and are ready to overcome any hurdle to reach their goals.

Your contribution will gift these children the goodness of nutrition and support their education. Sound health and regular schooling will prepare them to be resourceful citizens in the near future. Your contribution will aid this NGO in India to expand its operations and services to more locations thereby benefiting more children with the goodness of wholesome meals. Nutrition and education are two of the everlasting gifts that have the potential to improve the lives of children. It empowers them to dream big; it empowers them to be skillful, resourceful, and achievers in their own fields.

Make this Christmas memorable by gifting ‘unlimited food for education’ to children. Donate now and experience the joy of giving!