Spread Joy In The Lives Of 500+ Matajis In Vrindavan, Celebrate Holi With These Mothers

Aastha's story is one of dedication and service. She was inspired by her father's selfless acts of feeding and caring for widows in Vrindavan, and she has fully embraced this cause with enthusiasm and empathy. Today, she is the only family these women have, and she provides them not only with nourishing meals, but also with love, respect, and support.

“They consider me their daughter and now when I ask them if they want to go back to their homes, they flatly refuse. ‘Who will take care of me the way you do’, they ask with tears in their eyes - and that encourages me to do so much more for them,” - Aastha Sharma, Founder, KrishnaAshraya Parivar.  

Aastha needs your help to empower hundreds of widowed mothers in Vrindavan and bring back their smiles. 

Neglected, tortured, and abandoned - these mothers have seen immense pain  

For the past decade, Aastha has been taking care of 500 widows who were abandoned in Vrindavan. Every day, she visits them and spends time talking to them. Aastha says the widows enjoy listening to bhajans on her phone, and she has become like a family member to these Matajis.

Aastha ensures they receive nutritious meals three times a day, comprising dal, sabzi, rotis, and milk. Moreover, she attends to their health needs diligently, arranging regular check-ups and providing essential care. No detail is too small for Aastha; she also ensures they have warm clothing and blankets to shield them from the biting cold of winter nights. 

"We receive calls frequently about mothers who are unable to walk or too ill to even beg on the streets. Every evening, I take a walk around the Parikrama Marg, hoping to find anyone who needs my assistance. Just the other day, I came across two 60-year-old sisters who had been abandoned by their families. They were brought to Vrindavan under the guise of a vacation, but instead, they were left on the streets. I have taken them under my care now." 

Aastha explains that this is not an uncommon occurrence - tired of being tortured and abused hundreds of mothers come from West Bengal, Maharashtra, and other states hoping to enjoy a peaceful life but here they struggle for a morsel of food. She is on a mission to change that. 

But the festival of Holi brings happiness and joy into the lives of the forlorn widows. Traditionally shunned from participating in joyous celebrations due to societal norms, Festival of Colours offers these women a rare opportunity for liberation and camaraderie. With faces adorned in vibrant colors and hearts filled with newfound freedom, widows joyfully join the festivities, leaving behind their sorrows for a moment of pure happiness. 

This Holi, help Aastha give 500+ Matajis solace, security, and companionship 

Aastha wants to build a safe and loving home for the 500+ Matajis in Vrindavan and give them the life they deserve in their final years. She also wants to reach out to many more widows who are struggling to survive. All of this won’t be possible without your consistent support. You can donate construction materials, groceries, and a vehicle to Krishna Ashray Parivar and be a part of the joyous celebration of Holi.  

About the NGO: For the past decade, Aastha has been taking care of 500 widows who were abandoned. Every day, she visits them and spends time talking to them. She was inspired by her father's selfless acts of feeding and caring for widows, and she has fully embraced this cause with enthusiasm and empathy. Today, she is the only family these women have, and she provides them not only with nourishing meals, but also with love, respect, and support.