National Seva Day
On Sunday 21st November hundreds of volunteers from the Bhaktivedana Manor community came together for National Seva Day (Service – Good deeds for others). In partnership with Hertsmere Borough Council and Hertsmere Forum of Faiths, religious communities worked together to serve the local community.
The inspiration came from Mitzvah Day, a Jewish led initiative to volunteer their time to good causes. Some 5,000 faith volunteers from 50 different Hindu organisations across the UK took part.
Bhaktivedanta Manor volunteers donned their wellies and joined other faith groups to begin to transform the overgrown Rose Field (near Tabard Rugby Club on Watling Street in Radlett) into a communal picnic area.
The below photo includes local faith leaders, James Clappison MP, the Chair of Aldenham Parish Council Cllr Ron Worthy and Sita Rama das of Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Lotus Trust.
Manor volunteers and others picked litter in two parks in Borehamwood: Maxwell Hillside Park and Parkfields.
“I am excited and optimistic about what was achieved on Mitzvah Day and National Seva Day” said Rev Richard Leslie, Chair of Hertsmere Forum of Faiths. “The event marks the beginning of this year’s National Interfaith Week. On Wednesday 24th, at the Allum Hall at 5pm there will be the Celebration of Faith, which will include contributions from seven local faith schools and faith communities.”
The below photos includes the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks with Srutidharma das, the President of Bhaktivedanta Manor, during the official launch of the event in north London.
Many volunteers helped to clean up Bhaktivedanta Manor’s New Gokul, Britain’s leading centre of cow protection and working oxen.
Food for All, volunteers from Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, EY, JP Morgan, Lloyds Banking Group and RBS joined forces and prepared meals for Watford’s homeless community living in shelters provided by charities including Watford New Hope Trust, The Sanctury, The Haven Day Centre, and the GROW Hostel. Cooking was done at the Bhaktivedanta Manor kitchens.
Project Leader, Prashant Joshi, from EY’s Financial Services Performance Improvement team said “The project was an overwhelming success, with the volunteers building strong bonds between each other, working hard, and serving the community in a powerful and gracious way.”
Each event that is being organised is based on at least one of the guiding principles:
•To relieve hardship and poverty
•To bring a little joy where none exists
•To help the environment
Together, Mitzvah Day and National Seva Day attracted around 20,000 volunteers to support at least 250 projects and initiatives across the country. While both events were organised by faith groups, anyone can take part in Mitzvah Day and National Seva Day, regardless of race, religion or belief.
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