12/10/2020
Project BELA was started this summer with the village women of Bamni Badrinath, in the state of Uttarakhand. These women earned their livelihood by weaving garlands for the daily Puja offered to Lord Vishnu in whose name the world-famous temple Badrivishal or Badrinath Temple is dedicated. Every year, pilgrims thronged Badrinath under the Char Dham Yatra (Journey of the Four sacred places of worship) to offer their salutations to the Lord, the Keeper of the Universe. But with the Covid19 pandemic, and the lockdown, both the devotees and the earnings from selling garlands for Puja stopped. Women who daily earned enough to support their family suddenly faced an uphill task of finding alternatives to meet ends.
Samvriddhi Foundation connected with the village women during this period and convinced them to start fresh. A Self-Help Group (SHG) was formed and women were asked to continue weaving the garlands as a pilot to be sold online. A devotee can buy this garland online which will be offered to the Lord during the daily Puja. Sanitized and packed well, these garlands can be posted to the devotee’s address if they wish to receive them at home. Samvriddhi Foundation took care of the entire online and logistics plan for the initiative and secured funding for the initial investment.
Women have regained confidence since then and the work of getting their lives back to normalcy is running its course. In the high-altitude villages of Uttarakhand, it is difficult to find alterative livelihood options and skills necessary to do the work. Getting women to do what they know the best was the intention of the team in Samvriddhi. With that the faith of these women attached to the Mandir and their Lord who dwells at the place was strengthened.
Given that the short summer window when the Mandir is opened for everyone is ending, we are hoping to make the best use of this time and effort. All of us with our faith and devotion to Lord Vishnu – Keeper and Nurturer of the Universe can come to support these women while paying our homage and salutations through the daily Pujas. Please buy these garlands which will be offered to the Lord during the Puja as per the rituals. You can wish to receive the garland at your place through post.
Look forward to all your support and encouragement. If you don’t want to buy the garlands, then atleast spread the word so we can reach out to as many more people during this time to support the initiative.
PEACE! PEACE! PEACE!