By Our Correspondent
PURI:Like every year, this year also, continuing its long tradition of serving devotees during the auspicious Rath Yatra-2026 at Puri in Odisha, Jindal Foundation, the social arm of Jindal Steel Ltd serving lakhs of devotees in last 3 days during the on-going grand festival.
From Nabajouban Darshan, the Foundation has been providing freshly cooked traditional Odia meals daily for 11 days, until the day of Suna Besha . The service provided by Jindal Foundation entered into 12 years this year in 2026. The services will continue until the auspicious day of Sunabesha, aiming to provide more than 25 lakh meals.
Mr Naveen Jindal, MP and Chairman Jindal Steel Ltd and Smt Shallu Jindal, Chairperson of Jindal Foundation, have been closely monitoring the food distribution by the Foundation. Inspired by the vision of MP Shri Naveen Jindal, Chairman of Jindal Steel Ltd, the Foundation began its Rath Yatra seva journey in in 2015 and has consistently scaled up its efforts each year.
The Foundation established two large-scale food distribution stalls at strategic locations—near Puri Railway Station and the bus stand adjacent to Gundicha Temple. Led by Jindal Steel Ltd, Head CSR, Education and Sustainability , Odisha Head Corporate Communications , Mr Prashant Kumar Hota, Jindal Foundation members, volunteers , social workers missing no stone unturned to reach out maximum devotees. Beating heavy rains, Jindal Foundation serving lakhs of devotees,.
These stalls offering a traditional Odia meal consisting of rice, dalma (a wholesome lentil and vegetable preparation), and khata (a sweet and tangy chutney), chosen both for its cultural relevance and nutritional benefits.
Prepared under strict hygiene standards, the meals were served with deep reverence, in alignment with the spiritual significance of the festival. A dedicated team of over 200 volunteers and staff worked tirelessly in shifts to manage the massive operation—handling cooking, transport, and distribution with efficiency and devotion.
ORS sachets, raincoats distributed among devotes , and refrigerated water tankers, each with a 1,000-litre capacity deployed to ensure access to clean drinking water.
The Foundation also handed over bio-toilets to the administration for public use, enhancing sanitation during the grand festival.
