JK News Today

KATRA, MAY 9:

For facilitation of the pilgrims, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board started a free community kitchen (Langar) from today at Tarakote on the picturesque Tarakote Marg (new route) between Katra and Adhkuwari. This facility will be available to the pilgrims round the clock throughout during the year at Tarakote amidst the beautiful ambience of the floating fountains in the water body developed by the Board in the backdrop of the Trikuta Hills.

The Langar facility was formally inaugurated by a group of pilgrims from Mumbai, in the presence of Mr. Simrandeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Mr. Vivek Verma, Additional CEO and other officers and employees of the Board amidst chanting of Vedic mantras. A puja was held at the site before the commencement of the facility. The pilgrims present on the occasion lauded the Shrine Board for starting this facility.

The Langar facility has commenced at the already existing spacious Bhojanalaya of the Board at Tarakote, which can cater to around 200 pilgrims at a time. The community kitchen has been equipped with modern kitchenware, utensils and other gadgets to provide most hygienic and wholesome food to the pilgrims. The facility can cater to 8500 pilgrims per day. The food will be served to the pilgrims over the counter in stainless steel utensils. The pilgrims are also expected to wash their own utensils after their meal for which elaborate arrangements have been made at the site. Sanitization units have also been installed at site for proper hygiene of the utensils.

Giving details, Mr. Simrandeep Singh added that the community kitchen will work round the clock and the pilgrims will be served meals which will mostly comprise the traditional food of the region. Those willing to donate for the facility can also do so through the donation boxes kept at the site. Further, pilgrims can also donate online through digital gateways, the details of which will be uploaded on the website of the Shrine Board for the convenience of the pilgrims.

It is pertinent to mention that the Tarakote Marg between Katra and Adhkuwari was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 19 May 2018. Having beautiful ambience, scenic view of the surrounding areas, gentle gradient of the 6 metre wide track, modern infrastructure and the logistics put in place by the Shrine Board, has made this track increasingly popular among the pilgrims. The floating fountains in the water body developed at Tarakote have become a special attraction for the pilgrims, particularly the children. The colourful lights emanating from these fountains present a most enchanting and panoramic view during nights.

Among those present on the occasion were Mr. M. M. Gupta, Chief Engineer, Shrine Board; Mr. Hem Kant Prasher, Chief Accounts Officer; Dr. Arvind Karwani, Mr. Deepak Dubey and Dr. Jagdish Mehra, Dy. CEOs; Mr. Vinay Khajuria, ACF; and Mr. Manu Hansa, Assistant CEO.