Ahmedabad: As the chariots entered Saraspur, considered the maternal home of the deities, thousands of devotees participating in the 1.5-km procession were served meals by locals as part of a long-standing tradition.At Panchawad Pol, residents said the practice has been carried on for four generations. Organiser Prakash Jotani said preparations had been under way for the past four to five days.“Residents of the pol prepared around 500kg of boondi, 200kg of potato sabji and puris made from 200kg of wheat flour for around 2,500 people,” Jotani said.In Luhar Sheri, where residents have been organising the community meal for 49 years, more than 15,000 people were served lunch, organiser Pravin Patel said. About 200 residents were involved in the preparations, which included making 1,000kg of potato sabji, puris and 1,500kg of mohanthal.Local residents said Saraspur’s association with the yatra was as old as the yatra itself. The mahants of Jagannathji temple and Ranchhodraiji temple were gurubhai (disciples of the same guru), leading the area to host devotees over the decades. The practice has since become a generational tradition.
