Puri: As many as 50,000 devotees were served vegetarian meal at a special camp near Puri railway station during Rath Yatra.
It began on Netrotsav on July 13 and continued till the late evening of Rath Yatra on July 14. In the second phase, the service was resumed on Bahuda Yatra (return car festival) and Suna Besha. The devotees were served rice, dalma (medley of lentil and vegetables) and khatta (condiment made from raw mangoes).
JSPL Foundation, the CSR arm of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), had organized the camp in coordination with the district administration.
Besides, the Foundation, in coordination with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS), Puri, distributed 7000 packets of glucose powder among devotees at Bada Danda during Rath Yatra.
A refrigerated mobile drinking water tanker of 1000 litre capacity was also put up for the devotees flocking to the Holy Town on those 10 days.
“We are grateful to Lord Jagannath for the opportunity to serve the devotees. God is the doer, we are only the medium,” said co-chairperson of JSPL Foundation Shallu Jindal.
A team of 40 volunteers was engaged for the purpose.
JSPL Foundation also conferred the Rashtriya Swayam Siddha Samman on Rath Shilpis (the chariot-makers) who built three new chariots in just 59 days every year. It also providing Social Security Support to them.
