JSPL Foundation serves free food to devotees during Ratha Jatra in Puri

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Jul 5, 2017 at 5:36 PM Updated On : Jul 5, 2017 at 5:40 PM

Bhubaneswar: JSPL Foundation, the CSR arm of leading steel producer Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), served fresh cooked food to devotees during Ratha Jatra recently held in pilgrim town Puri in Odisha.

More than 36,000 devotees availed the free food service during Netrotsav, Sri Gundicha Ratha Jatra, Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Jatra (return of lords from Gundicha temple) and Sunabesha of Lord Jagannath and his siblings during the grand festival.

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The Foundation also provided 10,000 packets of Glucose powder to the district administration on request for free distribution among the devotees.

The glucose powder packets were distributed by the district Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) on the day of Rath yatra. In the first phase, the distribution of food was distributed on Netrotsav evening till late evening of Ratha Jatra. The food was distributed on days of Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Jatra and Sunabesha (lords on gold attire) in second phase.

The devotees were served rice, dalma (medley of lentil and vegetables) and khatta (condiment made from raw mangoes) behind Gundicha Temple of the holy city, in coordination with the district administration.

Besides, the devotees were also served chilled drinking water from a refrigerated mobile drinking water tanker of the Foundation throughout the 10-day festival. A customised vehicle of 1000 litres capacity was engaged to dispense refrigerated drinking water. Around 4000 litres of chilled drinking water was provided every day during the festival.

Responding to the appreciations in social media about distribution of food, drinking water and glucose packets, JSPL Foundation president Shallu Jindal attributed all such services to the ‘Divine will of Lord Jagannath’.

The devotees expressed satisfaction over the service by the Foundation.

“Food quality and service by JSPL Foundation was excellent and much better than any other hotel here,” said a devotee from Jharkhand.

Last year, the JSPL Foundation had also provided free food to more than 25,000 devotees during the holy occasion in the city.