Palanpur: Pilgrims visiting Ambaji Temple will now get free food under a project initiated by the temple trust chaired by Banaskantha district collector Anand Patel.
Hundreds of pilgrims will be given free food under the Sadavrat Project from June 14.Ambaji is the abode of goddess Jagadamba and devotees flock to the temple in thousands every year.Ambaji temple trust had started Ambica Bhojanalaya to facilitate Sadavrat, which is sponsored by Jay Jaliyana Foundation run by Jaliyana Sadavrat.
The Sadavrat is planned for three months and will be run under the overall supervision of Banaskantha collector Anand Patel, who is ex-officio chairman of Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devsthan Trust (AAMDT), that manages the Ambaji temple.The AAMDT administrator SJ Chawda said that the temple trust used to provide food about 20 lakh visitors every year but at a token cost.
“However, some donors came forward and proposed to manage and supply free food on behalf of the temple trust.
Patel has decided to hand over the management of food to those donors,” Chavda said.“We want to continue the free food project forever.
However, currently, the temple management has agreed to the project for three months on a pilot basis.
A decision on continuing the project will be taken after reviewing its progress after three months,” said Chavda.