Rice to Rise: Chinmaya Mission SA campaign feeds community through faith
One handful at a time
Swami Abhedananda, spiritual head Chinmaya Mission South Africa, as part of the Nourish to Flourish project
Image: Supplied
The "Rice to Rise" campaign is bringing the community together through spiritual giving.
As Chinmaya Mission South Africa prepares for its December 2025 consecration, families across Durban are donating rice to feed the underprivileged – transforming a simple grain into a powerful symbol of faith and compassion.
This movement of faith and compassion is taking shape - one handful of rice at a time.
The "Rice to Rise" campaign, launched by Nourish to Flourish (N2F) in partnership with Chinmaya Mission South Africa, invites families across Durban to offer rice in honour of Annapoorna Devi, the Goddess of food and abundance.
At the centre of this initiative stands the soon-to-be-consecrated Chinmaya Annapoorna Temple in Arena Park, where the Divine Mother will be enshrined on December 1.
The consecration, guided by Swami Abhedananda, marks a spiritual milestone for the community and for N2F - dedicated to feeding the underprivileged with devotion and dignity.
“Annapoorna Devi blesses all food and gives us the strength to keep serving her children in Durban,” said Pavan Maharaj, project lead at N2F.
“Now that her temple has been built, the Rice to Rise campaign gives everyone the opportunity to connect with her - to call her home by offering even a handful of rice from their own kitchen.”
The rice collected will be used to prepare and distribute meals to those in need, continuing the long-standing work of N2F.
“This initiative is also about the flow of appreciation and gratitude - from devotees to the Divine Mother, and from her to all her children who are less fortunate. It reminds us that God is always there,” added Maharaj.
On consecration day, devotees can look forward to morning pujas, bhajans, and darshan, followed by evening festivities filled with song, dance, and devotion. Visitors will also receive a special rice prasad to keep in their homes - a blessing of abundance to sustain their families.
As rice continues to pour in from across Durban, so too does the spirit of unity and compassion. Rice to Rise reminds us through small offerings of love, entire communities can be uplifted - and that, in service to others, divinity dwells.