The lives of the children in Project Mala schools are so different to life as we know it in the west.  The story I relate to you today is about their beliefs which is such a large part of the culture of the Indian children we support.

Mukesh's prayer 

Mukesh Kumar is one of our children.  His father was a drunkard and did not care for his family.  When Mukesh was in class 3, he prayed to Lord Shiva to help his father mend his ways.  Mukesh vowed that if his prayers were answered he would take part in the Shrawan march each year.  

Shrawan is one of the holiest months for Hindus.  There is a Hindu tradition that during Shrawan they should fetch water from the Ganga (Ganges, the holiest river in India) and offer it in Shiva's temple.  To do this they have to take water from the river at Allahabad (which is the confluence of the rivers Ganga and Jumna) and take it to Vishvanath Mandir, a great temple of Lord Shiva in Varanasi - a distance of 130 km.  They have to do this in bare feet without stopping or resting.

This is such a major event in our area and the Government reserves one side of the main GT road between Allahabad and Varanasi for them, which causes horrendous traffic problems.   

Mukesh's prayers were answered and his father improved himself.   Mukesh has, therefore, been carrying out his promise to Lord Shia for the last three years.  This year Mukesh had company on the journey as he was joined by ten other children from Project Mala schools.  

Mukesh and friends on the journey