Rameswaram: A low-profile holy man from Gujarat, Seetharamdas Baba is serving free food to visiting pilgrims and devotees at his 'ashram' in Rameswaram, at a time when the tradition of 'anna chatrams' is on the decline.
During the heydays of the Sethupathy Kings, erstwhile rulers of Ramnad that had extended up to Katchatheevu island, Rameswaram was known for its great tradition of hospitality, with the King having made available a host of facilities for visiting pilgrims by building number of 'chatrams' - free lodgings where free food was also served. Not long ago, there were as many as 65 'anna chatrams' in Rameswaram island alone which were also supported by various NGOs'.
However, when that tradition is on the decline, a little known holy man from Gujarat who came down here 36 years ago with his assistants, is now serving free food daily to 500-600 persons daily, mostly pilgrims and elders visiting the island-town to offer prayers to Sri Lord Ramanathaswamy.
Seetharamdas Baba's daily routine starts at 5 am early morning and with the help of his aides begins to cook for that many people every day. The ashram provides either a 'North Indian Thali', or the homely three-course South Indian meals with side dishes, whatever the visitors wished. And all these are cooked in a hygienic way and served free, says Rashid Singh, a pilgrim from Gujarat.
The ingredients for the meals are routinely sourced. Seetharamdas Baba typically needs 20 kg of wheat, 40 kg of vegetables and 50 kg of rice daily, besides milk and curd. Free food is served from 11 am to 2 pm daily.
