Donor Spotlight: Savitha Rao

Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom and luck, new beginnings, and the remover of obstacles, is one of the most popular deities in Hindu society. He is depicted with an elephant head and human body and is celebrated each year in the late summer or early fall. During the ten-day festival, clay figurines of Ganesha are placed in Hindu homes throughout India and the Indian Diaspora. On the final day of the festival, the figurines are submerged in water to symbolize Ganesha’s return to the earth.

This year, three Ganesha sculpting workshops held in the Washington, DC area brought new beginnings and removed obstacles for the women and girls of Sambhali. Led by Savitha Rao, the workshops raised funds for Samabhali U.S. as well as two other Indian charities, Anna Sudha and the MITU Foundation.

Savitha Rao stands with a table of her students’ creations

Savitha, a native of Bangalore, India, has lived in the U.S. since 1990. Ganesha, she states, is her favorite Hindu god. “There was a large Ganesha temple near my home when I was growing up.” She’d go pray there before her exams and, even now when she returns to Bangalore, she is sure to visit. “I like his playfulness. Children can relate to him. He’s funny, and he’s carefree.”

Her workshops are packed with adults and children alike (there were 65 attendees this year), and they walk away with lovely creations, thanks to Savitha’s patience and simple directions. You would think she’s been leading the workshops for many years, but you’d be wrong; this was only her fifth year.

In 2015, Savitha learned to make pottery. The next year, during the Ganesha festival, she made a figurine for herself with some clay she had on hand and a couple of videos off YouTube. “It was surprisingly beautiful,” she says. “My pottery teacher said, ‘Savitha, it’s like you’re meant to make these.’” So she made 30 more for her friends. In 2017, an area temple asked her to hold a workshop for the children, and an idea was born.

The workshops are fun, and they are joyful (as this writer can attest), but they are also especially meaningful to the Indian Americans who were there. Savitha thinks she knows why. “When we left India and came here, there was no access to Ganesha to do the puja [worship, including the ceremonial submerging in water]. We’d never dreamed we could have a clay Ganesha to put in the water, and now we are given that opportunity to reconnect with our childhoods.”

She also says that knowing that the money they paid was going to help others also made a difference to the participants. “It’s a win-win situation for everybody, including me. For me, it’s the most spiritual, most soul-satisfying thing I do.”

Some of those who attended knew each other before; others met and connected at the workshops or in the community-building WhatsApp groups where everyone shared the beautiful shrines as their Ganesha sat ready for the puja. The photos and the comments flowed:   

“Savitha, thank you so much 🙏 Can’t describe the joy and contentment I feel after doing the puja to a handmade, cute Ganesha.”

A few of the shrines built to accompany the workshop participants’ Ganesha statues

The community Savitha created made it all the way to Bangalore where a full-page article about the workshops was featured in Vishwavani, a leading Kannada language newspaper, which was read by family and friends of the participants.

And community building continued for Sambhali U.S. when workshop participant, Sandhya Murthy joined the Sambhali U.S. Development and Volunteer Engagement Committees.

Savitha chose Sambhali U.S. because, “I have always looked for charities that support women and girls. As much as you want to believe things have changed, parts of the world are very patriarchal. Girls still have a hard time. Women still suffer. Obviously Sambhali U.S. fits right in. It lines up with what I want to do.”

Shereen Arent, President of Sambhali U.S. added, “Carlea Bauman and I were honored to attend these amazing workshops. The spirit of support and friendship that is so much a part of Sambhali surrounded us and we could feel the connection to the women and girls of Sambhali. Abundant thanks to Savitha, her many helpers, and the generosity of spirit and treasure of everyone who was there.”

For those in the Washington, DC, area who would like to join one of Savitha’s Ganesha workshops next year, email her at savibhoomi2016@gmail.com and she will reach out when they are scheduled in August or September. For those not in the DC area, Savitha suggests searching for Ganesha workshops in your area or just make them yourself with clay from an arts and crafts store and a how-to video on YouTube (“There are a lot,” she promises).

Sambhali U.S. board member Carlea Bauman with her Ganesha

And set aside any worries about how good your clay figurine will be by keeping this Hindu blessing in mind: “With Ganesha by your side, no obstacle is too big."

Want to help? Sambhali U.S. has created a Fundraising and Community Building Guide for those interested in building awareness and funds. Full of information, inspiration, and support, the guide provides the tools you need to support the women and girls of Sambhali. Click here to download the guide.