Grahamstown streetkids are getting a free meal at the National Arts Festival thanks to Hare Krishna devotees.

Hare Krishna founder of the Food for Life Programme, Srila Prabhupada once said: "No one within a ten mile radius of our centres should go hungry." Keeping true to his wish Hare Krishnas are distributing delicious free vegetarian meals to hungry souls at the festival.

"These people have been sent by God," said 19-year old Elered George, accepting a hot meal.

"God sent them to give us food. I hope that they will never leave Grahamstown. I hope God keeps the Hare Krishna's in town," said George.

Also present at the 5pm Krishna meal time was housewife Veronica Windvogel who thought the idea was "fantastic".

"Our kids here in Grahamstown are struggling like hell, I just wish they (the Krishna's) would be here forever." Krishna devotee Vrajabasi Das said: "Whatever we do we do for the pleasure of the Lord - just like the food that we give to the people." Das said the food was offered to the Lord through the hungry.

Established in 1972 as a humanitarian service arm of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Food for Life now operates in 60 countries worldwide.

There are eight Food for Life centres, each distributing an average of 20 000 meals per week.