As Diwali approaches, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has come up with an extraordinary gift to celebrate the festival of lights, focusing on kindness and compassion towards animals. Kumar has launched an initiative to feed over 1,200 monkeys daily on the outskirts of Ayodhya, aiming to ensure proper nutrition and cleanliness in the city.
Addressing the Needs of Ayodhya’s Monkey Population
Since the opening of the Ayodhya temple for devotees, large crowds have gathered, bringing hundreds of monkeys expecting to be fed. To address this, Kumar has arranged for nutritious and hygienic food for these monkeys at designated areas, keeping them away from crowded spots to avoid inconveniencing pilgrims.
An Emotional Tribute: Honoring Loved Ones
While discussing the initiative with HT City, Akshay Kumar mentioned the emotional decision to dedicate this act to his late parents and father-in-law, actor Rajesh Khanna. Kumar shared, “Writing my parents’ and my father-in-law’s names on the van was an emotional decision. I feel that somewhere up there, they would be proud of me.”
Praise from Ayodhya’s Spiritual Leaders
Swami Raghavacharya, Peethadishwar of Shridham Ramvarnashram Ayodhya, praised Akshay’s efforts, noting that feeding Hanuman ji’s “monkey army” is an act of high spiritual value. He expressed blessings for Akshay’s continued success and acknowledged the actor’s noble gesture as a true service to Lord Hanuman’s devotees.
Akshay Kumar’s Track Record of Philanthropy
This initiative is part of Kumar’s broader commitment to social causes. Earlier this year, he donated ₹1.21 crore to Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah for renovation and ₹25 crores to the PM CARES Fund during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Upcoming Project: ‘Singham Again’
In the midst of his philanthropic work, Akshay Kumar is preparing for the release of Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty. The film features a star-studded cast, including Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Ranveer Singh, Ajay Devgn, and Jackie Shroff, with a cameo by Salman Khan as Chulbul Pandey. Inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana, Singham Again will be facing competition at the box office from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, starring Kartik Aaryan. Akshay Kumar’s Diwali initiative serves as a powerful reminder of compassion, adding a unique and meaningful touch to the festival.