On the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri held on Wednesday,  while many devotees poured milk over Shiva lingams in temples, Nisha Mahek, a 45-year-old resident of Nilgiri Garden in Belapur, celebrated the occasion in a different way. For the past ten years, she has been distributing milk-based drinks to the needy, inspired by the belief that feeding the hungry is the highest form of offering,  she has named the drive - Har Har Mahadev. 

Her inspiration stems from the Askhay Kumar  starrer  Bollywood movie OMG – Oh My God!, which prompted her to rethink traditional offerings. "If someone is hungry, it is better to provide food rather than simply placing it before an idol," she asserts.

Each year, she starts the day by offering a spoonful of milk before the deity before heading out to distribute lassi.

"This year, over 40 like minded individuals supported her endeavour and  contributed amounts ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 2000, which helped her collect nearly Rs 20,000. Nisha utilised the funds  to purchase approximately 1,000 packets of lassi and milk, which were then distributed across various locations in Navi Mumbai.

With the help of friends and volunteers the packets were couriered and personally distributed. 

Total of 180 tetra packs of milk to St Jude Childcare centre in Cotton Green and another 45 packets of milk for cancer patients at Tata memorial centre at Kharghar were couriered.. At Sukarma, an orphan care NGO in Khanda Colony, 30 packets of sweet lassi were distributed. Likewise to the homeless at Seawoods junction 75 packets were given. “ This time I have used an instant courier facility to drop the packets far off the destination and for remaining my friends and volunteers helped. . Since milk and charnamrit is offered to the idol, the food product that comes close is Lassi therefore I distribute these however the cancer centre at Kharghar and cotton green specifically demanded for milk, the same was provided,” said Mahek.

In the evening, another 250 packets of lassi were distributed in Nerul and Belapur roads.

Reflecting on the journey, Nisha recalls her first year of distribution when she managed to give away just 80 packets of lassi, which then cost Rs 10 per packet. During the lockdown, she scaled up efforts, distributing nearly 400 packets. “ earlier even if the contribution were less the quantity used to be more owing to lesser rates nevertheless the response is only increasing every year,” she said.

Her approach has faced criticism on social media—with some arguing that religious rituals should not be altered—Nisha remains steadfast in her belief that Lord Shiva himself guides her in this endeavor. “ There have been criticisms about the need to stop a ritual to do social service but largely I have only received support which is heartening,” she said.

Social media has played a crucial role in expanding her initiative. Few day prior Nisha creates and circulates posters online, encouraging contributions, which are sent to her either personally or through digital transactions. Last year, a woman from another society contacted her, expressing a desire to replicate the initiative in her own community.

Such moments affirm Nisha’s belief that kindness is contagious, and she hopes more people will join her cause in the years to come.