Guidelines issued for serving food to Ambubachi Mela pilgrims

Guwahati: The Kamrup Metro district administration has laid down certain guidelines regarding serving of food for pilgrims during the forthcoming Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple here on June 22-28. The administration today said that all food stuffs prepared and served during the Ambubachi Mela will be monitored by the Food Safety Department.

All the bhandaras have been directed to maintain hygiene and sanitary standards while preparing and serving food. All food articles like flour, pulses, cereal, rice, edible oil and vegetable used for preparation of different food stuff at bhandaras or langars during the Mela have to be of good quality.

Besides, packaged drinking water served to the devotees and pilgrims must be of ISI/BIS marked with presence of original seal in packed condition.

It has been directed that food items should be prepared with minimum oil, spices and chillies, and the potable water used for cooking should be treated one.

The administration has also directed that the floor of kitchen and dining room should be cleaned and dried at least twice a day and all bhandaras or langars should serve the same items of food at the same time uniformly.

It has also said that food should be served inside the dining halls and every bhandara and langar should make their own arrangement for disposal of waste.

The administration has also said that no food brought from outside will be allowed to be served and serving of left-over food stuff has been prohibited. “No plastic plates, cups or spoons should be used for serving food in the bhandaras,” as per the guidelines.

There will be total restriction on distribution of food stuff outside the dining hall by the bhandaras.

While vegetables like potol, squash, gourd (panilau), ladies finger, jika, beans, soya bean, gram, moongdal, green chillies and paneer has been recommended for serving, among the restricted food items are chillies powder, dry chillies, pumkin, khichiri and curd.