2024 Chaitra Navratri Utsav at Shree Saptashrungi Nivasini Devi Temple
The annual Chaitra Navratri Utsav, celebrated at Shree Saptashrungi Nivasini Devi Temple, commences with Ram Navami i.e. the ninth lunar day in the bright fortnight (i.e. between the new moon and full moon) of the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April of the Gregorian Calendar) and concludes on the full-moon in the month of Chaitra. During the festival, hundreds of thousands of devotees visit the temple, with the highest influx occurring on the last three days of the festival. Many devotees undertake a barefoot pilgrimage to the temple from their residence while others drive or take public transportation to the base of the hill. From there they reach the temple at the hilltop by either climbing approximately 510 steps or by taking funicular trains.
Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) received permission from the local administration to organize a medical camp and offer free food to the devotees visiting the Shree Saptashrungi Nivasini Devi Temple. These services were in operation during the concluding days of the Chaitra Navratri Utsav from April 20-23, 2024. The site allocated to VMRK was nearly 500 meters away from the temple.
Preparation
VMRK began preparing a list of all the necessary items that would be required to treat diverse medical conditions and to serve the estimated 8,000 meals everyday to devotees visiting the temple. Following this, we set out to procure these items.
On April 19, a team of volunteers arrived from near and far at the VMRK center in Pimpalner. These volunteers were grouped into three teams, each performing different tasks. The first team was dispatched to the allocated site in advance to set up the site. They ensured that the setup was well arranged, including tent setup, mat layout, and table positioning.
All VMRK charitable activities include banners to guide the beneficiaries to different areas within the charity setup. Consequently, another team went to get charity banners prepared for this event. The third team stayed at the Pimpalner center to pack all the procured materials and deep-cleaned the ambulance.
Once the packing was completed, all the materials were loaded into a truck. Meanwhile the oxygen cylinders, stretcher, medicines, and other medical equipment, were loaded into the ambulance. At around 9:00 pm on April 19, both the vehicles departed from the Pimpalner center on a 6 hour journey to the temple in Nashik.
Arrival and set up
The local administration allocated an area of 90 feet by 165 feet for providing medical and food services. Additionally, an area of 15 feet by 45 feet and one room was provided for the accommodation of VMRK volunteers.
The truck and the ambulance arrived at the assigned site in Nashik at around 3 am the following day. VMRK volunteers promptly unloaded all the materials and arranged them systematically. They worked through the night to set up the camp, and by the morning of April 20, both charity activities were ready for operations.
Services
VMRK organized a three day medical camp from April 20-22. The medical team of 4 doctors, 2 nurses, 3-5 pharmacists and around 25 volunteers worked in shifts, to ensure medical services could be provided around the clock. More than 2500 patients received medical service at this camp. An ambulance was also stationed on-site in case of emergency.
In April, the state of Maharashtra gets very hot and is prone to heat waves. The scorching heat and the physical exertion of the pilgrimage caused many devotees to arrive at the medical camp with symptoms of dehydration. These patients were given rehydrating drinks or prescribed medicines for their medical conditions. Moreover, the devotees who undertook the pilgrimage barefoot had foot blisters and swollen feet. The medical staff nursed and dressed their wounded feet.
4 doctors, 2 nurses, 3-5 pharmacists, and 25 volunteers worked in shifts TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICE 24 HOURS DAILY
PILGRIMS RECEIVED MEDICAL CARE FOR DEYHDRATION, WOUNDED FEET, AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Alongside medical services, a team of over 100 volunteers worked around the clock to serve food throughout the day and night. The volunteers monitored each batch of food prepared and as soon as each batch was nearly finished, they immediately started preparing a fresh batch of food. This ensured continuous service of freshly cooked food comprising poha and upma for breakfast; and chapati, rice, dal and seasonal vegetables for lunch and dinner served to the devotees. The camp concluded by the afternoon of April 23. VMRK served more than 27,300 meals to devotees.
More than 100 VMRK volunteers worked in shifts to prepare and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner EVERY DAY
VEGETARIAN MEALS WERE SERVED AROUND THE CLOCK TO DEVOTEES
Visitor feedback
Many people commented in the visitor book at the site, some are listed below:
I visited Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra’s medical camp for my leg injury. I saw it provided better facilities to all patients. I was very happy to see a free medical camp and their other activities like food distribution. Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s charitable organization worked excellently during Chaitra Navratri Utsav.
Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra’s food service as well as arrangements were very good. The food was good and we enjoyed having it. We expect such food services every year. We are grateful to Sant Baljit Singh Ji. Thank you.
Sh. Bhushan Bhaskar Jadhav, Malegaon, Maharashtra