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INDIA, Rishikesh, January 2nd, 2012
Krishna Das benefit concert in Rishikesh
The Ganga Prem Hospice benefit concert with kirtan king Krishna Das in Rishikesh on January 2nd, 2012, was something that the Hospice team would for long remember as an event which not only raised valuable donations for Ganga Prem, but also saw a large number of volunteers come together to manage the show completely on their own, and as their own.

Krishna Das, the very popular kirtan singer from the US gave the audience an enthralling time for close to three hours, with the tempo of the kirtan inducing people to chant along, sway to the tunes, and even spontaneously get up and dance to the bhakti music.

It was a bright sunny afternoon when the audience from Rishikesh began arriving in the Parmarth Niketan yoga hall on the other side of the river Ganga, where the Hospice volunteer team was ready with arrangements. The concert hall was full, with some of the audience even sitting in the aisles, at the base of the stage and outside the hall in the verandah, to get a glimpse of KD playing.

It was an informal and warm atmosphere when the concert proceedings started with the children from the CJ Ma Music School playing Indian classical music, and introductions by Sarojini Murthy, the Hospice counsellor. It was a fond moment for those who knew Ma Chetan Jyoti of Rishikesh, whose vision it was to start a school which provided free of charge training in music to little children. Ma Chetan Jyoti died of cancer soon after, but her little music school has gone on to carry on her vision.

Nani Ma, the Ganga Prem Hospice spiritual counsellor and a trustee of the Shradha Cancer Care Trust, welcomed Krishna Das and lit the inaugural lamp along with the artist. Nani Ma gave a short talk on the work of Ganga Prem Hospice and also gave out little tokens of appreciation to all artists on behalf of GPH.

Krishna Das played the harmonium with tabla and violin support, and punctuated the intermission between one kirtan and the next with jokes and anecdotes. "Chanting is very simple, and that's why I can do it," said Krishna Das, making the audience laugh.

The Ganga Prem team owes the success of the concert to its team of volunteers headed by Alan Neachell, Anil Gupta and Steven Lopresti. The volunteers, Swami Sarvamangalananda, Ras Bihari, Panchanan, Jennifer, Yura, Lorna, Karl, Daniel, Beth, Vani, Madhava and Rohit Anand, ensured that every single detail was managed, right from decorating the venue, to ushering the audience in and directing people to where they could put their shoes, etc.

PepsiCo provided gift hampers that were given to the performing children as a token of appreciation. The organic tea on offer at the concert was made available by Organic India.

» View a short clip of the Rishikesh concert on YouTube!

INDIA, Rishikesh, December 25th, 2011
December clinic 2011
The Ganga Prem Hospice monthly cancer clinic sees interesting demographic changes with each month. In the last clinic of the year 2012, more than 40% of the patients were from towns other than Rishikesh.

On the cold Christmas morning, Ganga Prem Hospice oncologist Dr Dewan found some patients waiting for him even though he had reached the clinic fairly early in order to see all patients. He was ably supported by general surgeon Dr Pallavi Purwar and Hospice general physician Dr Saxena who observed the oncologist closely and also gave consultations to non-cancer patients.

As usual oral cancers dominated the types of cancer seen. Oncologist Dr Dewan spent much time explaining to patients what their prognosis was, how they should go about their treatment and what benefit they could expect from that treatment.

Counsellor Sarojini Murthy spoke to patients at length in her inimitable style, informing them about their disease and its treatment, sometimes persuading them to pursue treatment, and on other occasions admonishing them if they were still dithering and not getting their cancer treated. Sarojini also kept an eye on the medicines stock and reminded the Ganga Prem Hospice team on the nutritional supplements that were always in need.

Volunteers were active during the clinic with the neighbouring Rajasthani Mishthaan Bhandaar attentively providing tea for the patients, which was very welcome in the chilly weather conditions. Annapoorna kitchen service provided refreshment for the Hospice team. Volunteers Jitendra Bisht, Bhagwati Kala, Kamala Bhasin, Totaram Arya, Shashi Rana and Steven Lopresti supported the clinic operations, while the Ganga Prem Hospice employees, administrative assistant Yogeshwar Prasad, assistant manager Divyae Katiyar, co-ordinator Pooja Dogra, the Hospice nurse and ambulance driver, were all kept busy ensuring the smooth running of the clinic.