The shrine that's 2 minutes away from where I live has a charitable habit of feeding the poor and the homeless who find shade from the burning sun under the make-shift cloth-roof erected.
This experience was eye-opening in ways that I could have never imagined. On any day, anyone who wishes to, can donate to the shrine and to the poor in terms of food. They will tell Salmi Chacha how much they want to donate (for instance SG$150) and then Salmi Chacha will order food (from the usual cooks who cater to the shrine) that amounts to the monetary donation, for instance 2 big pots of Chicken Briyani. These pots of rice are then distributed amongst the poor.
When it is a smaller donation, in the case of the 2 pots, people who want food will stand in a queue with their own bowls and containers and etc. Some who don't even own these will use old newspapers, plastic bags and even their clothes or the scarves to hold the ration of rice. What struck me was the idea of Briyani being such a luxury to these people that once the man in charge lets go of the big spoon and a loud "CLING!" is heard, children will rush forward, crowding around the pots to scour the remaining grains of rice with their hands. Almost falling into the pots, these hungry kids will push and shove to not let anyone else's hands get their way! [SEE VIDEO]
This experience was eye-opening in ways that I could have never imagined. On any day, anyone who wishes to, can donate to the shrine and to the poor in terms of food. They will tell Salmi Chacha how much they want to donate (for instance SG$150) and then Salmi Chacha will order food (from the usual cooks who cater to the shrine) that amounts to the monetary donation, for instance 2 big pots of Chicken Briyani. These pots of rice are then distributed amongst the poor.
When it is a smaller donation, in the case of the 2 pots, people who want food will stand in a queue with their own bowls and containers and etc. Some who don't even own these will use old newspapers, plastic bags and even their clothes or the scarves to hold the ration of rice. What struck me was the idea of Briyani being such a luxury to these people that once the man in charge lets go of the big spoon and a loud "CLING!" is heard, children will rush forward, crowding around the pots to scour the remaining grains of rice with their hands. Almost falling into the pots, these hungry kids will push and shove to not let anyone else's hands get their way! [SEE VIDEO]
When the donation is larger, fit for about 5000 people, then there is a sit-down distribution as seen below. This will be done round after round from 1pm till about 5pm. You can see for yourself, the mammoth pot of rice and gravy prepared! [SEE VIDEO]
But do not be misinformed! The food is NOT only for the poor. People who visit the shrines can also sit down to eat or stand in the queue to get some rice home. It's the "barakah" (blessing) that these visitors want!
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