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Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Soup kitchen feeds the needy, as access to food is everybody's right
The needy queue up for free vegetarian meals from a staff member of the Brahmarpanam Soup Kitchen. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds@FMT Lifestyle) KUALA LUMPUR : It's about 7.30am on a bright and sunny Monday morning, and members of the Brahmarpanam Soup Kitchen are already hard at work, washing and cutting vegetables for the day. Founded in 2024, this noble initiative located in Jalan Air Panas Baharu here, has been preparing free home-cooked vegetarian meals to be distributed to needy and underprivileged communities across the Klang Valley. What stands out about this soup kitchen, according to coordinator Arwind Kumar, is its emphasis on healthy and high-quality food. 'Vegetarian meals can also be unhealthy if you add too much salt or preservatives. Here, we don't use onions or garlic, and all our spices are sourced from suppliers who we know are ethical,' Arwind told FMT Lifestyle. 'Our vegetables here are all from an organic farm. And everything is fresh, nothing is pre-kept here. We don't believe in that. Everything is cut and cooked on the day itself.' The Brahmarpanam Soup Kitchen is an initiative by the Kriyalakshmi Mandir Shree Sai Gurukul Charitable Society founded by GuruMaa Annai Shree Kriyalakshmi Deviyar. 'All this is because of a single person's vision and endless determination. You just cannot put out her fire,' Arwind commented. Brahmarpanam Soup Kitchen coordinator Arwind Kumar believes everybody has a right to food. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds@FMT Lifestyle) A typical day at the kitchen starts around 7.00am, when members of the soup kitchen start work on the 600 to 1,000 meals they usually cook just in time for the lunch hour. The meals usually consist of rice and curry, with vegetables such as spinach, cauliflower, pumpkin, long beans, carrots and capsicum. Hygiene in the kitchen is maintained at high standards, Arwind added. Many who work here are family members of students from a nearby school, also run by the Kriyalakshmi Mandir Shree Sai Gurukul Charitable Society. Arwind said this was a good way to help underserved members of the community, while equipping volunteers with useful kitchen skills that could help them with employment later. 'Besides, who knows better about home cooking than mothers themselves?' Arwind quipped. He added that members were encouraged to mix things up and add variety in what they cooked: their mission is to make vegetarian meals fun and interesting. The soup kitchen maintains a high standard of hygiene and safety at all times. Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds@FMT Lifestyle) Once cooked, the food is packed, and transported by van to various locations all over the region. The kitchen has a list of about 40-50 locations they often visit, including homes and houses of worship. They also serve the marginalised, including migrant workers and members of the transgender community. Arwind commented that there were many other organisations in the Klang Valley who wished to carry out similar acts of charity. However, they were bound or restricted by bureaucracy. 'By the time you complete background checks, people are already starving to death. Our idea is not to judge or decide who deserves to eat. GuruMaa's idea is if you need food, come and take it,' Arwind stressed. 'It shocks us in this day and age, there are still school students who don't have enough money to get something to eat. And we hope we can contribute towards ending this problem. Food is a right, not a privilege.' Currently, the soup kitchen only serves meals during the lunch hour, but they hope to expand the scope of their operations in the future. Brahmarpanam Soup Kitchen staff pack the day's food, under the watch of (left) founder GuruMatha Annai Shree Kriyalakshmi Deviyar. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds@FMT Lifestyle) For Arwind and staff members of the soup kitchen, knowing they have helped to feed someone and make their community a little bit better is the most rewarding part of their efforts. He emphasised that you don't need to operate on a big scale to create positive change: just start small, and the ripple effect will take care of the rest. 'We did not start this kitchen off this big. We started feeding 10, 20, about 30 people. You don't need to assume that to do things like this, you have to immediately jump the gun and feed 500 people,' Arwind said. 'If you can just cook for your neighbour who's in need, you're on the right path, you're doing the work already!' Brahmarpanam Soup Kitchen 68, Jalan Ayer Panas Baharu Taman Ayer Panas 53200 Kuala Lumpur Follow the Brahmarpanam Soup Kitchen on Instagram.
Hype Malaysia
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hype Malaysia
vivo Launch, Honda Open House, Rado Presentation & More: Dope Events We Hit Up This Week!
Another week, another whirlwind of totally EXTRA events! We were here, there and everywhere! We were on the scene and vibing like a boss! Just check out our social diary for this past week (don't be jelly!): vivo V50 Lite 5G Launch 29th April 2025, was a really blue Tuesday, not because it was depressing, but because the alien glow of BlueVolt was practically oozing out of the new vivo V50 Lite 5G — and it definitely made an impression. We were at the launch of the new smartphone, and it blew us away. It's So Big, So Pro, with the huge 6500mAh battery packed into a slim, stylish body; and with 90W fast charging that gets you back to 20% in just 7.5 minutes. It's built for heavy use with over 27 hours of YouTube playback, reverse charging for other devices, and it's all yours from RM1,299. The launch event was buzzing with energy – from the BlueVolt Big Battery Game Zone, to a live radio broadcast powered entirely by the phone itself – it was a hurricane of fun. We also got some target practice throwing the phone into a wall (you had to be there). Influencers Arwind Kumar and Jobroseph were on-site as well, showing off how the V50 Lite fits right into their creator lifestyles. Safe to say, this phone is built to keep up. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Honda Raya Open House Sometimes, you need to come off V-tec and cruise a little. Hari Raya is not complete without Honda's annual Hari Raya Open House, which afforded us an amazing feast, and the chance to catch up and maybe even gossip with new and familiar faces. The location of choice was the Jamu Restaurant in Sunway Hotel Resort, which served satay, lemang, and even laksa. With pretty much all the automotive media in one place, the concentrated car geek energy filled the air. One could not go to a random table and not hear about comparisons, technology, or the occasional car sounds. Heaven! Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Rado Novelties Presentation We had an exclusive preview of Rado's latest collection during its recent Novelties Presentation at the IF ONLY restaurant in Kuala Lumpur — and how we wish we could have taken one of these stunning timepieces home with us! The brand also teased several upcoming collections, which will be revealed later this year, so stay tuned for that announcement. When it comes to luxury timepieces, this Swiss brand is the word! Watch what went down at the presentation: Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Jiwa Kacau 2025 – The Final Game Is Coming In Hot! Konsert Jiwa Kacau 2025 – The Final Game is happening on 28th June at Stadium Hoki Bukit Jalil, and it's bringing together some of the biggest names in Malaysian and Indonesian rock. For the first time ever, Spider will be rocking the Jiwa Kacau stage alongside crowd favourites Hujan and Bunkface. From across the border, Kerispatih, The Lantis, and a mystery band will be joining in for a night of pure nostalgia, energy, and epic singalongs. There are only 8,000 tickets up for grabs with prices starting from RM98 (General Admission), RM148 (Cat 1), RM168 (Rockzone), RM228 (VIP), and RM328 (JK Zone). So if you're ready to scream your heart out, don't wait too long — get your tickets now at ilassotickets. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Guerlain's Bee Garden Pop-Up At The Exchange TRX Guerlain's Bee Garden Pop-Up at The Exchange TRX (running until 11th May) is where French elegance meets sensory indulgence. Explore the new Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil Serum, bespoke scents from L'Art & La Matière, and quick makeup sessions. And for a sweet treat, exclusive desserts by Lachér Patisserie mirror Guerlain's fragrances, making it a true feast for the senses. What sets this pop-up apart is its interactive approach – think AR experiences and gamified challenges to make your visit both fun and educational. Whether you're into skincare, fragrance, or just looking for something unique, this pop-up has it all, blending luxury with cutting-edge engagement. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience! Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Guardian Awards: Beauty & Wellbeing 2025 We were on the scene at the Guardian Awards: Beauty & Wellbeing 2025, an inspiring launch that celebrated not only standout products, but also the personal journeys, choices, and stories behind them. The Expert Picks 2025 were carefully selected by a panel of respected voices in beauty and wellness: Dr Shazril Shaharuddin, healthcare professional and wellness advocate; Yasmin Khalid, skincare enthusiast and content creator; Shiyo Joo, celebrity make-up artist; and Cody Chua, celebrity hairstylist. Guests at the event enjoyed engaging sessions with this year's Expert Picks panel, who shared both their professional insights and personal experiences. Watch what went down at the event: Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Tommy Hilfiger's First Pickleball Event We hit up Tommy Hilfiger's first pickleball ball event at Pickle Point Damansara for an afternoon of sweats and styles. Friends of the friend were invited to commemorate the event dressed in Tommy Hilfiger's iconic Polo Collection, perfect for on-court use and casual wear. We started the afternoon with a quick tutorial from a seasoned pickleball coach, before diving into back-to-back play sessions with each group. It was fun and most importantly, stylish! Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel:
