Jindal Foundation continues to serve devotees during Rath Yatra
To serve the devotees, the Foundation has set up two massive food distribution stalls – near the Puri railway station and the bus stand near the Gundicha temple – strategically located to reach maximum number of people. The traditional Odia meal of rice, dalma (a lentil-based dish) and khata (a sweet and sour chutney) was chosen for its nutritional value and its cultural significance, providing a taste of local hospitality to the devotees.
The Foundation has ensured that all meals are hygienically prepared and served with humility, aligning with the spiritual sanctity of the event. The stall at the bus stand was inaugurated by Puri MP Sambit Patra.
Shallu Jindal, Chairperson, Jindal Foundation, said, 'For the last 11 years, our efforts have been to ensure that no devotee goes hungry while seeking the blessings of Lord Jagannath during Rath Yatra. We are humbled by the blessings and the opportunity to contribute to this grand spiritual occasion of India.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Koraput inscription sheds new light on 11th century history
Berhampur: A regal antiquity has surfaced amidst the quiet corridors of Jeypore Museum. The antiquity is an inscribed stone pillar that promises to realign the historical narrative of southern Odisha and Chakrakota-Bastar heartland of Chhattisgarh. In a discovery on July 1, renowned epigraphist Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, along with cultural researchers Sarat Routray and Himansu Sekhar Sadangi, deciphered an inscription of profound significance, nestled unassumingly in the museum's verandah. This monumental find, etched on a fragmented 7-foot-high pillar, bears a 16-line royal eulogy (Raja Prasasti) of Chindaka Naga king titled 'Madana Nrpa Kula Kamala Bhaskara Tilaka' (a blazing sun to the lotus clan of rulers). The intricately carved stone, originally brought from Bhairabsinghpur-Kumli-Kamta region of the Indravati valley, also carries on its flank a curious erotic motif, depicting an ass and a pig, an iconographic clue recurrent in the visual culture of the dynasty's epigraphs and copper plates. Though some lines of the inscription remain obscured or lost beneath the concrete plinth, Adhikari suspects further truths lie buried, perhaps awaiting another chisel of time. The inscription dates back to Nagavanshi kings of Chakrakota, the ancient capital that corresponds to present-day Bastar in Chhattisgarh and stretches its dominion across parts of Kalahandi and Koraput in 11th-century India. Adhikari linked this pillar with the reign of Someswara Deva (1069–1110 CE), a monarch celebrated in other inscriptions from Kuruspal (Chhattisgarh), reinforcing connections within the dynastic line. Raj Kumar Rate, history lecturer at Khariar Autonomous College, called this 'a monumental finding for Odisha,' emphasising that it is the first-ever Chindaka Naga inscription unearthed within Odisha's modern boundaries, predating even the famed Khechela copper plate of Raghunath Krushna Deva. Historian Om Soni from Chhattisgarh agreed, affirming it as the first known Odishan reference to King Someswara Deva of Chakrakota. Equally fascinating is the inscription's linguistic character written in 'corrupt Sanskrit' with Odra Nagari characters that foreshadow the evolution of Odia script. Adhikari noted peculiar word forms like 'Bikantha Sri Karana', 'Kasa Dasa', and 'Damodara', which mirror the stylistic flourishes of Ganga king Vajrahasta V's era, further aligning it with inscriptions from eastern India. This could mark the Koraput region's earliest evidence of emerging Odia writing traditions. The inscription echoes familiar names and eulogies found in other royal records of Chindaka Naga lineage, suggesting strong dynastic continuity. Adhikari theorises that the Chindaka Nagas, rising after the decline of the Nalas, were strategically established in Chakrakota with support from Somavanshi kings like Janmejaya and Udyotakeshari. During periods of strife between Eastern Gangas and the Kalachuris, the Nagas emerged as loyal allies of the Gangas. This newly unveiled relic is not merely a stone with ancient script. It is a portal to a complex era of tribal kingdoms, artistic expression, dynastic diplomacy and linguistic transition. As this inscription finds its voice after centuries of silence, it paves the way for a renewed understanding of the rich historical and cultural mosaic of the Koraput-Bastar frontier. The past, long buried beneath the dust of time, has spoken once more. Its echoes may change the way this vibrant land is viewed.
Hans India
18-07-2025
- Hans India
14th century Odia inscription in Bissamcuttack deciphered
Berhampur: A rare stone inscription, dating back to the glorious era of Eastern Ganga dynasty, discovered at Bissamcuttack in Rayagada district, has finally been deciphered -- unveiling names, titles and fragments of history lost to time. Originally rescued in the year 2000 by heritage enthusiast and researcher Sriranga Nayak, this priceless relic was nearly reduced to rubble at a local quarry. Nayak, acting swiftly on a tip, saved the stone slab, engraved with timeworn yet distinct Odia script, and sheltered it within his personal treasure trove, the Adikanda Sangrahalaya. The slab was later transferred to the District Sanskriti Bhavana in Rayagada for safekeeping. It was only recently, on July 10, that the text was brought to light by eminent epigraphist Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, who meticulously deciphered it at the very museum where it was once given refuge. The inscription, comprising five lines, mentions Sarabana Parija, son of Gobinda and grandson of Basupati, a warrior of note. Though fractured, split in two during quarrying, the stone still echoes the spirit of its time. Adhikari, through expert palaeographic study, dates it to 14th century CE. Beyond the script, the stone bears the faint figure of a quadruped animal, possibly the vahana or emblem of the official mentioned, adding a sacred visual element to the narrative. Sriranga Nayak emphasised Bissamcuttack's erstwhile glory as a flourishing capital under the Eastern Gangas. Two previous inscriptions from the area, one from Taruballi (modern Therubali) and another from Bissamcuttack, were earlier deciphered by the late Snigdha Tripathi, enriching the region's historical tapestry. According to Bishnu Adhikari, the individuals referenced may have been royal retainers or military commanders under a sub-lineage of the Ganga dynasty, perhaps descendants of the once-powerful King Dadarnna Deva. Titles like Basupati or Bhupati denote high-ranking senapatis entrusted with safeguarding the realm. This newly deciphered epigraph now joins the distinguished list of inscriptions from Padmapur, Therubali, and Bissamcuttack, forming the fourth major epigraphic record of the region. Deepak Kumar Nayak, noted archaeologist, hailed this as a historic milestone, further enriching Odisha's growing legacy of epigraphy. The revelation has kindled a surge of cultural pride and scholarly interest among historians and locals alike, reaffirming Bissamcuttack's place as a beacon of Odisha's medieval heritage.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Odisha starts awareness drive for rooftop, home gardening
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to promote rooftop and home gardening in five major cities of the state, deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Tuesday flagged off a rath (campaign vehicle) to create awareness among the citizens on the urgent need to increase the green space in urban areas. Singh Deo said green space is fast reducing with rapid urbanisation across the state. Concrete buildings and roads are eating up green spaces in cities creating urban heat island effect. 'This is a novel attempt by the government to encourage citizens to develop more greenery spaces through rooftop and home gardening, peri-urban and urban horticulture for aesthetics, nutrition and healthy environment in urban areas. City dwellers in residential and institutional buildings will be sensitised and educated on using innovative technologies to develop green spaces in their homes. This initiative will be piloted in five major cities of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Jeypore,' he said. The project is funded under state plan scheme - Innovative Projects for Promotion of Urban Horticulture - and implemented by the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar. The campaign vehicle will move across various urban zones of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for over a month-long awareness drive, reaching out to residential communities, educational institutions, resident welfare associations and other city-based organisations along with general public, he added. The vehicle is equipped with audio-visual educational materials in Odia and English for demonstration of innovative and technical exhibits, distribution of technical pamphlets and arrangements for organising interaction points for citizens to discuss and seek expert advice. Singh Deo said the department encourages all citizens, institutions and community groups to participate actively and contribute to greener cities across the state. Director, Agriculture & Food Production Subham Saxena, additional secretary Shubhranshu Mishra and other senior officers were present at the event.
