A Buddhist meditation association and a Hindu organisation teamed up for the first time to hand out food packages to members of the public at Armenian Park in George Town.
Some 50 members of Persatuan Meditasi Buddha Jing Yue Pulau Pinang and the Penang Hindu Association distributed packets containing longevity buns, murukku, mineral water, boxes of cookies and books to passers-by.
Jing Yue event coordinator Dr Kuah Li Feng said the group had been running similar distribution drives for a decade during festive periods such as Chinese New Year, Ramadan and Indian celebrations in Little India, but this joint effort marked a meaningful cross-cultural expansion.
She said the initiative aimed to spread compassion at a time when many people were facing stress and emotional strain, adding that the group wanted to offer “not only food for the stomach but also food for thought”.
Penang Hindu Association president Datuk P. Murugiah said such efforts were important as many people were dealing with personal and emotional challenges, noting that community initiatives should go beyond addressing physical needs.
He said people needed “some kind of love and caring”, not just material or medical assistance, adding that listening to others and treating everyone with humility and equality were equally important.
Source: The Star
