Yoga teachers from across Dumfries and Galloway combined forces to raise money for the Sri Aurobindo orphanage in Nepal after the two earthquakes there destroyed most of its buildings.
On Sunday 21st June, the UN’s International Yoga Day, 44 local yoga enthusiasts gathered at Dalbeattie Town Hall to enjoy a range of practices from experienced teachers. The total raised was a fantastic £1600.
Yoga teacher, Carol Godridge, has worked at the Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir orphanage. She said,
“This is a wonderful place for destitute children, and so much work has gone into the building and development of accommodation, school rooms and training workshops overt the last few years. All destroyed in just a few minutes. Despite this the volunteers there are working, not only to care for the children, but also to help with the rescue work for the local village. Every day brings more children newly-orphaned to their doors.”
The first earthquake caused massive damage to about three quarters of their buildings, but Swami Ramchandra Das, who runs the orphanage, wrote to supporters after the second earthquake and said,
“Luckily no one was injured, but this earthquake took a further toll on our buildings. While we were running for our lives, we could see bricks and chunks of walls falling from the upper floors of the kitchen complex. Today’s tremor had increased the magnitude of the damages already caused earlier, with widening of cracks and adding many more.
“We were deeply frightened at the sight of cowshed and boys’ dorm complex which was shaking more violently than ever, our hearts lost all hopes as we thought this would be the last moment we could see that building standing. Luckily we had moved all the boys to temporary shelter until repair/reconstruction.
“Today’s major earthquake has rendered this building completely unsafe to reside, as it may come down any time. We have lost a complete 4-story building with a total floor space of 5000 square meters. And with this we are at a serious need for a proper shade for our cows, the pashmina workshop and rooms for the boys to live in. The remaining structure will have to be destroyed and a new one constructed in this place.
“The mill and the reception building that were unscathed during the last earthquake have suffered quite a lot of damage this time. Severe cracks on the walls are prominent on both buildings as well as some of their walls have dislodged from their original position. Repairing all these buildings is now an additional task.”
If you could not attend the yoga, but still wish to donate, you can pay into the account : code 16-58-10 account 20141556 with the reference Sri Aurobindo.
The Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir website is http://www.auronepal.net
A second yoga fund-raising day for Nepal is being planned for August 29th at Lincluden Community Centre.
