
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
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.


Hans India
09-07-2025
- Hans India
Repair works of Ratna Bhandar completed: ASI
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri on Monday announced that the ASI has completed repair of the 12th century shrine's 'Ratna Bhandar' (treasury) and inventory-related work will begin after approval of the State government. This was announced at a joint press briefing by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee and Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) Superintending Archaeologist D B Garnayak here. The ASI is the custodian of the 65-metre-tall imposing temple in the seaside town. 'By the infinite grace of the Lord, the conservation and renovation work of the Ratna Bhandar, both outer and inner, has been completed today,' Padhee told reporters. The outer chamber is regularly used to store and retrieve ornaments for daily rituals and festivals. The most valuable ornaments made of gold and diamond are kept in the inner chamber, which had not been opened for 46 years due to concerns about its structural integrity and the need for repairs. The inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar was reopened in 2024 for an inventory of valuables and the repair of its structure. The conservation work was carried out by the ASI for about 333 hours over a period of 95 days. As many as 80 people worked to conserve the Lord's treasury, said Padhee. About the inventory of valuables in the Ratna Bhandar, Padhee said the works related to it will begin only after the permission of the State government. The Jagannath temple in Puri functions under the Law department of the Odisha government. Jewellery and other precious items stored in iron chests and almirahs were shifted to temporary strong rooms inside the temple in two phases in July last year when the Ratna Bhandar was reopened after four decades. The valuables will be taken inside the Ratna Bhandar shortly, since the repair is now complete, the SJTA Chief Administrator said. The last inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was prepared in 1978. Padhee said the repair and conservation works were carried out as per the State government's prescribed guidelines. 'By the grace of the Lord, the repair work was completed before Niladri Bije of deities on July 8,' he said. 'Niladri Bije' refers to the return of the sibling deities - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath - to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, markingconclusion of the Rath Yatra festival.