By M.M. Nadarajah & Owen Lee
For the past year, the management of Sri Maha Kaliamman, 7 Kannigal Temple in Kampung Tersusun Batu Lapan, Hulu Kinta, has been offering free breakfast every Saturday — a gesture that has warmed the hearts of many devotees and inspired other temples to consider similar initiatives.
Every Saturday morning, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, devotees who visit the temple are treated to a hearty vegan breakfast at the temple’s grounds. This initiative has especially benefited visitors who travel from as far as Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Melaka, many of whom arrive by bus and struggle to find nearby vegetarian food options.
“Our temple committee covers all the costs. We don’t ask for donations from the public. We are not asking for public donations. We simply want to offer a small service to our devotees.” said Bakeanathan Ranganathan, the temple chairman.
The breakfast menu usually includes tosei, bihun goreng, and vegan curry puff, all lovingly prepared by the temple committee members. Each week, two members are assigned cooking duties, with the rotation allowing others to participate as well. Additionally, some people from the public also contribute home-cooked food, further strengthening the sense of community around the initiative.
The program likely supplies about 50 people every Saturday, according to Mr. Bakeanathan, however the exact number of attendees is different particularly based on the number of tour buses arriving.
Despite the scale of the operation, the temple committee faces few challenges. “Sometimes we’re short on manpower as some of our volunteers need to leave early, but we manage and continue without interruption,” he shared.
What makes this initiative even more special is the public’s involvement. While the temple committee initiated the program, local residents have enthusiastically stepped in to assist — either by helping with breakfast preparation or contributing additional food. This collective effort has created a strong bond between the temple and the surrounding community.
Beyond the breakfast program, the temple also runs cultural and wellness activities. Every Sunday morning, Veenai (a traditional Indian string instrument) classes are conducted for about 40 children and adults . Meanwhile, Sunday evenings are dedicated to yoga sessions organized by the temple committee, promoting both physical and mental well-being among participants.
Public response to the temple’s efforts has been overwhelmingly positive, with other temples expressing interest in launching similar services in their communities.
In a time when acts of generosity can be rare, the Sri Maha Kaliamman Temple’s free breakfast program and its broader community activities serve as shining examples of how tradition, compassion, and service can come together to uplift society — one meal and one gesture at a time.
