During the last 15 months, every aspect of our normal lives has changed. From how we shop, how we celebrate birthdays/anniversaries, how we conduct rituals to almost everything we do, our lives have seen a significant transformation.

India is embracing the guidelines of the new normal. Most of us are wondering what to do next and how to stay safe after the COVID-19 pandemic unlock, should remain indoors at all times or is it ok to give ourselves the liberty of socialising?

There is no right or wrong answer to these questions. However, we need to evaluate the consequences and choose what is the best decision to keep ourselves, our loved ones and the people around us safe. Everyone is facing one challenge or another; some scout for oxygen capacitors while others hunt for food. Daily-wage workers, labourers and migrants who rely on their wages and salaries may need some time to find suitable jobs for themselves.

For people who find it difficult to arrange for food, there are many NGOs working to make it available to them. As a part of their COVID relief service, these organisations either provide food or grocery kits to people in need.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such NGO in India that takes care of food requirements of marginalised communities and vulnerable sections of society. Since day one of the pandemic-inflicted nationwide lockdown, the organisation has been serving meals to people in need. Its COVID relief service started on 25th March 2020 and continues till date as there is a need to satiate hunger. As of 30th May 2021, a total of 136 million (13.6-crore) meals have been served in the form of cooked meals, grocery kits and happiness kits. People from various backgrounds have been benefitted from its service, including cleaners, migrants, housewives, children, pilgrims, factory workers, etc.

Click on the names below to read their stories.

Sudha

Keshav Hari Gosai

Anandi

Shyam Khushwah

Shaheen Mohammad

Arshad

Small businesses, artisan communities, and self-employed people have been the worst hit. With no job or money, they are unable to feed their stomach and their families. You can rescue them from being hit by hunger in this crisis. Donate online to support frontline workers, marginalised families, single parents, homeless mothers, aged people and others who are in dire need of food assistance. Support Akshaya Patra and help these people get back to their old lives as the unlocking phase begins.

Akshaya Tritiya is a festival of joy and prosperity. Also called ‘Akha Teej’, it is celebrated on the third lunar day of the Vaishakha month (April – May) and this year it will be celebrated on the 14th of May. This day is considered to be highly auspicious and sacred. There is no necessity to look for an auspicious time if one wants to perform a special event like a Pooja, wedding, housewarming, etc. as the whole day is auspicious.

A few beliefs about Akshaya Tritiya
• It is an annual springtime festival of Hindus and Jains alike
• The sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Parashurama was born on this day
• This day marks the birth of Goddess Annapoorna

It is a belief that a new venture begun on this day brings prosperity. Whether you start a new business, a new practice or a new activity, it is believed to bear fruitful results. There is a frenzy in people to buy gold during this season, with the belief that they will get unending prosperity. In this crisis hour, when jewellery stores and other shops are closed, many of us don’t know what to do. We fail to realise that we can still get unending prosperity by following our age-old tradition of performing an act of charity. Doing charity, in India is considered to be the highest form of service, out of which Annadaan is considered to be Mahadaan. You can visit organisations or NGOs that help the people in need or make online donations, it is still believed as a service.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such NGO you can choose to donate to in this crisis hour. With its COVID-19 relief Service, it provides freshly-cooked meals, grocery kits to marginalised communities and happiness kits to children studying in Government and Government-aided schools. Since the first wave of the pandemic, the organisation has continuously worked to feed the needy people by supporting the Government of India. So far, over 12-crore meals have been served, cumulatively.

Inherit good deeds on Akshaya Tritiya by making Anna Daan with Akshaya Patra by supporting the distribution of meals during the tough times of the pandemic. Support the needy people hailing from challenging socio-economic backgrounds. Help them survive this pandemic with your donation and gain their blessings for feeding them healthy meals in return.

Donate online to feed the marginalised sections of the society this Akshaya Tritiya and get a year full of prosperity.