27 April,2011 06:26 AM IST | | Sheetal Sukhija
In the view of escalating number of complaints about food shortage for the over 2 lakh devotees flocking to Puttaparthi for final darshan of their guru, the ashram opened its kitchen to serve devotees at an unbelievable price.
Devotees can buy coupons for a mere Rs 3 and enjoy a wholesome meal of rice, dal and rotis in the grand dining hall.
Devotees relish their meals in the dining hall of the ashram. The kitchen where food is
prepared for Sathya Sai Baba's followers
This includes kesari bhat, which is being distributed as prasadam. Meanwhile, volunteers are assisting chefs in the kitchen and are serving puliyogare and curd rice to devotees.
Hotels shut
In view of the heightened security arrangements, hotels and restaurants in the area have been shut down.
The ashram kitchen being thrown open to devotees comes as a saving grace for the many who are facing difficulties with the unavailability of food and lodging facilities.
An official at the ashram said, "We have received several complaints in the last two days and since this ashram is solely to serve those in need, we quickly upgraded the kitchen staff.
Many trucks carrying ingredients, which we ordered from outside the town, were stopped by the police outside Puttaparthi on Sunday. The milk trucks have reached and thus, we're able to serve food to the devotees."
The ashram authorities have also made arrangements to serve badam milk and orange juice to devotees leaving the hall after darshan.
With the problem of food availability resolved, many devotees sat and prayed in the ashram premises before
leaving.
