After Maha Kumbh Mela, Adani Group extends ‘seva’ to Puri Rath Yatra

Demonstrating a deep commitment to spiritual India, the Adani Group continues its mission of service, supporting millions of pilgrims during the sacred Rath Yatra in Odisha

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

PURI, JUNE 26, 2025

Following its large-scale, volunteer-driven support at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj earlier this year, the Adani Group has now brought its spirit of service to one of India’s most revered religious festivals — the Rath Yatra in Puri. This annual nine-day chariot festival, centred around the Lord Jagannath Temple, draws millions of pilgrims from across India and abroad.

For the Adani Group, corporate social responsibility transcends conventional boundaries such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Increasingly, it encompasses active participation in India’s cultural and spiritual fabric — not merely as a sponsor, but as a sevak.

Guided by Chairman Gautam Adani’s philosophy that “Seva Hi Sadhana Hai” (Service is Worship), the Group has launched a comprehensive seva initiative to support both devotees and frontline personnel during the Rath Yatra from June 26 to July 8.

This year’s initiatives include the distribution of nearly four million meals and beverages free of charge. Dedicated food counters offer wholesome meals to both pilgrims and officials, while strategically placed beverage stations across the city help visitors cope with Odisha’s summer heat. In addition, the Adani Group is supporting lifeguards from the Puri Beach Lifeguard Mahasangha, deploying volunteers for plastic waste clean-up on the beaches, and providing essential supplies such as free T-shirts for official volunteers, fluorescent safety vests for municipal workers, as well as jackets, raincoats, caps, and umbrellas for devotees and officials alike.

This expansive seva effort is being carried out in collaboration with the Puri district administration, ISKCON, and local volunteer organisations. Through the Adani Foundation, the Group has had a sustained presence in Odisha, contributing to rural healthcare, educational infrastructure, and livelihood development. This spiritual engagement is seen as a natural extension of its long-term community work.

Earlier this year, during the 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, the Group had partnered with ISKCON and Gita Press to support food distribution and welfare services for pilgrims. On January 21, Chairman Gautam Adani personally participated in the seva at the Kumbh, reinforcing the Group’s belief that social service is not peripheral but a core value.

If the Maha Kumbh represented scale, the Rath Yatra symbolises intimacy. While the number of pilgrims in Puri may be smaller, the intensity and complexity of logistics remain formidable. Through its involvement, the Adani Group is not merely delivering services — it is advancing a development model rooted in culture, compassion, and community engagement.

What sets the Group’s approach apart is the depth of its involvement. These seva initiatives are neither outsourced nor symbolic. Planning begins months in advance with on-ground partners, volunteers are drawn from the Adani Group and local communities, and implementation is managed by Group coordinators who possess strong regional ties.

Whether at Prayagraj or Puri, this evolving model of faith-linked service — fusing corporate capability with grassroots humility — showcases how modern Indian enterprises can meaningfully align with the spiritual heartbeat of the nation.