Reliance offers ‘Anna Seva’ in Puri Rath Yatra

Puri: After serving lakhs of people during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Reliance has launched multi-pronged efforts to enrich the experience of devotees in Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri, the business group said in a statement.

On the first day of the Rath Yatra on Friday, the company distributed hot meals to about one lakh devotees through its 'Anna Seva', and the service will continue till July 8 on ‘Naladri Bije’, the day on which Lord Jagannath and his siblings will return to the 12th-century shrine.

Reliance Industries Limited in close collaboration with the district administration of Puri has launched a comprehensive series of efforts to ensure that visitors enjoy a safe, comfortable, and enriching journey.

The annual Rath yatra draws lakhs of devotees who gather to witness the majestic procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.

"Seva is deeply rooted in Reliance's 'We Care' philosophy, and the opportunity to serve devotees in Puri is truly a blessing. We believe that by serving pilgrims and personnel during the Rath Yatra, we are serving the divine," Anant M Ambani, Executive Director, Reliance Industries Limited, said in a statement.

Apart from 'Anna Seva', Reliance has also installed contactless sanitisers at food stalls, supplying garbage bags for cleanliness in collaboration with the municipality, and extending sanitation amenities to police camps.

Over 4,000 trained volunteers, wearing identifiable uniforms, are also managing crowds and overseeing water points to keep devotees hydrated in the hot and humid weather. They also distributed over 1.5 lakh eco-friendly hand fans to help pilgrims beat the heat.

"Keeping the rainy season in mind, 3,500 raincoats have also been distributed among police staff. Volunteers, municipal staff, and police personnel will be provided with refreshment kits," the official said.

Another agency, Chaipani got itself engaged in strengthening on-ground civic infrastructure in collaboration with local authorities to ensure a safer and seamless experience for devotees.

The administration, with Chaaipani as its on-ground brand activation partner, has developed shaded rest areas, hydration kiosks, public sanitation units, and multilingual helpdesks at high-density points with the support of top corporates, a company statement said.

These measures aim to address critical issues such as heat exhaustion, lack of rest zones, and information gaps for first-time pilgrims, the company statement said.

"We see this not as an advertising opportunity, but as a moment where brands can step in as contributors to the public good," the founder of Chaaipani, Shruti Chaturvedi, said.