Vastrasamman

One of the offerings to God during a Pooja in Hinduism, is the symbolic offering of Vastram. Here, pure cotton wool is made into a garland and offered to the deity. This is called Vastram meaning cloth. The exchange of clothes between the bride's family and the groom's family during weddings, probably stems from this. By gifting clothes, we are in a way according respect to the other person. Vastrasamman literally means 'respect through clothes', and this, is the basic idea behind the Vastrasamman campaign of Goonj. By clothing the unclad, Vastrasamman seeks to bestow dignity to the individual.

Goonj and its campaign is an integral part of JGW. The Vastrasamman initiative is on the face of it very simple; collect clothes from those who would like to donate and distribute to those in need. But the effort put in to collect and distribute is massive with collection centres in many cities and small towns. No piece of cloth is discarded. The hanky or small napkin we throw away, may be pieced together along with other small pieces, and may end up as a baby's diaper, a loin cloth or as a home made sanitary napkin. By recognising the immense need the poorest of the poor, especially the women, have for cloth as much as they have for clothes, Vastrasamman is in a way reaffirming the worth of every individual.

As we go through our wardrobes everyday, wondering what to wear to college or to work or to the party, discarding much of what we have as unsuitable, unfashionable, boring etc., let us spare a thought to those who have just one set of clothes or perhaps not even that and as we rush out to buy the perfect dress, let us resolve to give away what we do not use. Let that be our contribution to the JGW this year, that each time we buy a new outfit, we give away one old one. When we settle down to springclean our wardrobe, let us not hoard clothes for sentimental reasons or selfish reasons or for any reason whatsoever. Let us on the contrary give away all that we have not used and are not likely to use. That will truly give us Joy and can be our commitment to the Joy of Giving Week.