Puri: Amid criticism over delay in pulling Nandighosha chariot yesterday, industrialist Gautam Adani and his family attended the auspicious Ratha Jatra in Puri today. 

Accompanied by wife Priti Adani and son Karan Adani, the business tycoon offered prayer to Lord Jagannath and Siblings in front of Gundicha Temple, where three chariots with deities parked in the pilgrim town. 

"Feeling blessed having darshan of Lord Jagannath on this auspicious occasion. I had nothing. But, I have got everything from Lord Jagannath. By the grace of people and blessings of God, I have everything today. For bright future of Bharat and for development of Odisha, I prayed to Lord that our country continues to progress and all people get fruits of it," he said. 

Adani family also participated in a comprehensive seva effort being undertaken by Adani Foundation to offer free prasad to devotees during Ratha Jatra in Puri. The billionaire is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi this afternoon in Bhubaneswar. 

Notably, From June 26 to July 8, the Adani Group has committed to providing an estimated four million meals and beverages to devotees, volunteers, and frontline workers during the Ratha Jatra in Puri. 

The seva effort is a collaboration between the Adani Group, the Puri district administration, ISKCON and local volunteer organisations. The Group, which has been working in Odisha through the Adani Foundation across sectors such as rural healthcare, school infrastructure and livelihoods, sees this seva as part of a larger spiritual continuity in India’s public life. 

The initiative follows a similar outreach earlier this year during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where Adani Group supported food distribution and services for pilgrims in partnership with religious and civic bodies.