Bonding over breakfast

A temple in Vashi brings together senior citizens over free breakfast and tea

February 17, 2017 01:12 am | Updated 01:12 am IST

Navi Mumbai: A bunch of senior citizens, in the 64-80-year age group, are shuffling restlessly in the compound of the Hanuman temple in Juhugaon, Sector 12, Vashi. “Where is Meher?” asks one, but before he can call him, Meher steps in, bows before the idol and rushes across to greet his friends. He can’t wait to share the news of the day: his grandson has cleared his second-year engineering exams. A round of applause and congratulatory messages follow.

Every morning, the temple comes alive to such gatherings. Over breakfast and tea, joys and sorrows are shared, and new friends welcomed. The facilitator for such gatherings is the temple trust, which offers senior citizens free breakfast and tea between 9 am and 10 am. However, the compound is abuzz till noon. On an average 30 senior citizens have breakfast every day, and since its inauguration this Republic Day, more than a 100 of them have come.

The initiative is the brainchild of Lalchand Bhoir, President of the Shree Hanuman Mandir Trust. The aim, he said, is to bring together senior citizens who can share their thoughts or simply recall the good old days over a cup of tea and breakfast. His entire family is involved in the effort. “I just thought of the idea; things only became a reality after my wife and sister happy agreed to prepare the food.”

Mr. Bhoir has always nurtured the idea, which, he said, is a family tradition. “I belong to a family that would not let a visitor go without eating.” His mother would always serve traditional food to whoever visited their home, and always emphasised respecting elders, irrespective of whether they were family members or not.

Mr. Bhoir’s wife Vandana is a proud supporter of the initiative. “My husband always strives to do good, and when he shared this wish, I agreed at once.” She in turn shared the thought with her sisters-in-law Shakuntla Mhatre and Phulabai Bhoir, who agreed to support them.

The breakfast varies each day. If there is upma one day, on another, there is poha, or puri bhaji and sheera with black herbal tea made with lemon grass and ginger. “The breakfast is prepared inside the temple premises by the women of my family, and they are the ones who decide the menu. It is served after the pooja” said Mr. Bhoir.

For the senior citizens, this couldn’t be a better way to make new friends. Mr. Bhoir’s sentiment and his respect for elders is not new to him, said Dattaram Laxman Meher (79), a retired government employee. “I have known Lalchandji for long and have been visiting the temple regularly since it was built 10 years ago. If a senior citizen shares a problem with him, he at once tries his best to help, like he is their own child,” said Mr. Meher.

The breakfast get-together makes Dhondu Shinde (79), who is new to the city, feel like he is back in his hometown near Pune. “I have just come here for treatment for age-related concerns. As a retired man, my routine is fixed, and would regularly visit the temple near my house that gave me peace of mind. I did not want to miss it when I moved out of there.” His son convinced him that the surroundings were just as they were in his hometown, and he agreed.

“When I visited the temple for first after the prayers and aarti, I was asked to join for breakfast. I was surprised; however, I saw that there were many senior citizens. I was touched to see that Bhoirji was so humble despite my being new; he made me feel comfortable, as did the others.”

Bhimrao Mane (64), says this forum has become a second home for him, and he spends an enjoyable morning here, apart from the time he spends with his family and playing with his grandchild. The friends he has made here are an integral part of his life. “I have known a few of them for years as I visited the temple often. However, back then, we would just greet each other. After the breakfast centre has started, we are able to spend more time, and look forward to meet, talk, share our stories and our happiness.” In fact, if someone in the group does not come for a day or two, the rest of them call to check if everything is alright. “We have become so close in such a short time,” he says.

The families too are happy that their senior members spend time with friends. Manoj Mhatre (34), was clueless how he would help his father Jagannath Mhatre remain active post-retirement. However, he feels the temple and its activities are a blessing. “After working for years it is difficult for a person to sit idle. While my wife and I long to spend time with my parents, we are unable to do so as we both have regular jobs. When my father said he has found a place he looks forward to going every day, it makes me happy.” Mr. Mhatre shares stories of his friends, and how they have overcome challenges, with his family.

Apart from the free breakfast, the trust organises a yearly picnic for senior citizens, celebrates their birthdays, and runs a free library which stocks spiritual and mythological literature, besides newspapers. The trust does not take money offered by the devotees either; Mr. Bhoir, who is also a builder, funds the activities himself. “These senior are like my parents, and I’m happy to be doing a small seva (a humble service) to them,” he says.

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