Puri-After successfully leading a vast volunteer-driven initiative during the Maha Kumbh Mela earlier this year, the Adani Group has now turned its attention to one of India’s most iconic spiritual events—the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha.
Held at the revered Lord Jagannath Temple, the nine-day chariot festival draws millions of devotees from across the globe, turning Puri into a sea of faith, devotion, and culture. In alignment with the guiding principle of its chairman Gautam Adani—“Seva Hi Sadhana Hai” (Service is Worship)—the group has launched an extensive service campaign to support pilgrims, civic workers, and frontline personnel during the grand festivities from June 26 to July 8.
This year, the group’s efforts include the distribution of nearly 4 million free meals and beverages. Dedicated food counters have been set up across the town to serve nutritious meals to devotees and duty-bearers, while cool drink kiosks help combat the scorching summer temperatures of coastal Odisha.
Further strengthening its community commitment, the Adani Group is extending its support to lifeguards from the Puri Beach Lifeguard Mahasangha, organizing beach clean-up drives with a special focus on plastic waste, and offering free T-shirts to official volunteers. Municipal workers have been provided with fluorescent safety vests, and pilgrims and officials are being equipped with jackets, raincoats, caps, and umbrellas to help them brave unpredictable weather conditions.
This large-scale seva is made possible through a collaborative effort involving the Adani Group, Puri district administration, ISKCON, and various local volunteer bodies.
Beyond being a philanthropic gesture, the initiative reflects the Group’s deeper engagement with India’s spiritual and cultural traditions. Through the Adani Foundation, the group has long been active in Odisha, contributing to rural healthcare, education, and livelihood development. This Rath Yatra support is seen as a natural extension of that work—blending infrastructure and spiritual service.
Earlier this year at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the Adani Group had undertaken a similarly monumental food and welfare campaign in association with ISKCON and Gita Press. Notably, Gautam Adani himself took part in the service activities on January 21, sending a strong message that seva is not a corporate add-on, but a core organizational value.
While the Maha Kumbh was about managing services at a massive scale, sources close to the group describe the Rath Yatra initiative as being more personal, yet equally complex. Despite the comparatively smaller crowds, the emotional intensity and operational challenges of the event remain high.
Months of groundwork, coordination with local partners, and logistical preparedness are key to the initiative’s success. Adani Group volunteers—drawn from both within the organization and the surrounding communities—are at the heart of the execution, with regional coordinators leading efforts based on long-standing grassroots connections.
Through its involvement in the Rath Yatra, the Adani Group is not merely offering services but reaffirming a vision of development rooted in Indian ethos, cultural heritage, and compassion. Rather than acting as distant benefactors, they are participating as sevaks, emphasizing shared values and collective responsibility in the sacred fabric of India’s festivals.
As the divine chariots roll through the streets of Puri, the Adani Group’s silent but impactful support reminds us that in moments of great faith, service can be the truest form of worship.
