100-member team from Telangana serving food to Amarnath pilgrims
The free langar would continue till conclusion of Amarnath yatra on August 9
Hyderabad: Amid tight security, a 100-member team from Siddipet town in Telangana, is serving free food to pilgrims participating in Amarnath Yatra that commenced from Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Following the terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam, the team was in a dilemma over continuing free food service (langar or community kitchen), but with the support of local administration, the team members made elaborate arrangements to continue their service.
Loads of essential commodities and other things such as silver plates and glasses were first brought to Bhaltal base camp in separate lorries from Siddipet on June 15. From the base camp, the goods were shifted to Panchatarani and near the shrine with the help of ponies.
Accordingly, arrangements were made to provide food at three community kitchens established at Bhaltal base camp, Panchatarani and Amarnath shrine.
The team is serving breakfast, lunch and tiffins to the pilgrims at the three langars in the Valley before they reach the Amarnath shrine. The service is being done under the aegis of Sri Amarnath Annadhana Seva Samithi.
“We start our service from 4am with tea, coffee, biscuits and rusk. It is followed by breakfast containing idli, vada, puri and upma at 6am,” Chikoti Madhusudhan, Samithi founder and chairman told Deccan Chronicle from Bhaltal base camp on Thursday.
“We are serving only tiffins to pilgrims at night from 7 pm onwards,” he explained, adding that almost 60 per cent of the devotees visiting Amarnath shrine were from south India. “We are able to meet the requirements of these pilgrims,” he said.
Madhusudhan further stated the Samithi was utilising the services of around 30 chefs, who are experienced in preparing south Indian vegetarian food, including breakfast. He said the Samithi has been rendering free food service since 2011.
He said that we are ensuring hygienic food at langars, which will continue till the conclusion of the Yatra on August 9. “We are providing service to the people with of help of pilgrims from Telangana and Samithi members, including president K. Kasinath,” he added.
