JAMMU, Jul 2: A grand Vishal Bhandara for pilgrims undertaking the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra commenced at Jammu Railway Station on Thursday. The community service initiative has been organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Dharam Prachar Sewa Samiti (ABDPSS), Jammu, to provide free, hygienic and nutritious meals to devotees during the pilgrimage.
The Bhandara was inaugurated by Mahamandleshwar Shri Shri 1008 Acharya Bansidas Ji Maharaj of Digambar Akhara in the presence of Sunil Sharma, National Coordinator of Akhil Bhartiya Dharam Prachar Sewa Samiti, Ved Parkash Sharma, President, DBPS, Jagdish Dogra, former President of Sanatan Dharam Sabha, and Yash Paul Sharma of GCPF, besides a large gathering of devotees and volunteers.
The programme began with Ganesh Poojan, Vedic chanting and the chanting of “Bam Bam Bhole”, creating a devotional atmosphere. Organisers said this is the 10th consecutive Bhandara being organised by the Samiti for Amarnath pilgrims in Jammu.
Addressing the gathering, Sunil Sharma said the Samiti remains committed to serving pilgrims with hygienic, nutritious and easily digestible sattvic food throughout the Yatra period.
“With the blessings of Baba Amarnath, we are organising this Bhandara for the tenth consecutive year. Pilgrims will be served fresh, hygienic and energy-rich sattvic meals every day. Special arrangements have also been made for devotees observing fasts on Ekadashi and other important religious occasions, a facility that is not available at other transit camps in Jammu,” Sharma said.
Samiti spokesperson Swatantar Bakshi informed that adequate arrangements have been made to cater to the large number of pilgrims arriving from different parts of the country. He said volunteers are working round the clock to ensure devotees receive quality food and necessary assistance during their stay in Jammu before proceeding towards the holy cave shrine.
Among those present were Shiv Ram Sharma, M.L. Padha, Dr. Vinod Shastri, Kewal Kapoor, Arvind Ratta, Ramesh Sharma, Shivam Bakshi, Vishal Sharma, Vikram Sharma, Ajay Kumar, Satpal Singh Rahore, Dayaram Sharma, Jagdish Dogra, Madan Mohan Gupta, and several other members and volunteers of the organisation.