This man from UP serves Mahashivratri pilgrims at Somnath for last 17 years

From Meenakshi Bhaskar Vaidya at Somnath: This bhakt from Uttar Pradesh regularly visits Somnath mandir every year on Shivratri and offers his services to pilgrims for three days.

Bhavdeshkumar Gupta from Aligadh in Uttar Pradesh visits Somnath mandir in Gujarat for last 17 years regularly a day before Mahashivratri. He camps here for three days and offers round-the-clock service to pilgrims before, on and after the festival of Mahashivratri.

Gupta who owns Jay Somnath Fruits Pvt ltd and Jay Somnath Transport in Uttar Pradesh this year came with his wife, son, daughters and other family members includingng Arvind, Rajiv, Hitendra, Rishabh, Pratik, Poonam, Neha, Nareshchandra. Entire family was involved in cooking food including 1700 kg gajar halwa, sabudana, bundi, ganthiya, puri, potato and other vegetable to cater a plate full of meal for free to pilgrims. The family has hired 50 local persons from nearby Talala to help them in cooking food.

Gupta also had brought 75 boxes of orange, 24 boxes of grapes, 15 boxes of apple, 50 boxes of Jamfal, 25 bags of bor, 18,000 bananas to distribute among pilgrims for free.

Not all pilgrims who visit Somnath on Mahashivratri are from well to do background. Many pilgrims from poor background depend on charity initiatives to fulfill their needs during their stay at Somnath. Gupta and many others through their own initiatives make our pilgrim places and religious occasions accessible to all class of people.

DeshGujarat