Adani @ Rath Yatra
Barefoot with the Faithful in Puri: Gautam Adani’s Journey from Industry Captain to Inner Calling at Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra
In the ancient coastal town of Puri, Odisha, where chants of “Jai Jagannath” echo
through narrow lanes and the air smells of incense and salt, the annual Rath Yatra
is not just a festival—it’s a living embodiment of faith. This spiritual grandeur
took on an added dimension this year when Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group,
humbly participated in the chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, embracing the
essence of “Seva hi Sadhana hai” (service is worship), a philosophy that underpins
both his personal and professional life, on 28 June, the second day of the nine-day
festival.
Dressed in traditional attire, barefoot and unassuming, Mr. Adani joined the lakhs
of devotees who thronged the Grand Road (Bada Danda), pulling the chariots of Lord
Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra during the sacred festival that ends
on 5 July. He did not come as a business leader but as a humble sevak—one among many
believers swept in the tide of devotion. With folded hands and bowed head, his
actions resonated with silent reverence, capturing the true spirit of selfless
service. Mr. Adani was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Priti Adani, Chairperson, Adani
Foundation; and their eldest son, Mr Karan Adani, Managing Director (MD), Adani
Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ).
Mr. Adani’s participation was deeply symbolic. It marked a convergence of India’s
spiritual legacy with corporate responsibility—a quiet message that leadership is as
much about grounding as it is about vision. His seva included helping with
preparations, engaging with temple servitors, known as daitapati in local Odia
parlance, and offering voluntary support in logistics and pilgrim services. From
coordinating with local teams to aid sanitation drives, to facilitating medical
assistance for devotees, Mr. Adani’s presence underscored his commitment to holistic
seva—not as a photo opportunity, but as a lived value that embodies his eponymous
Group’s motto of growth with goodness.
This was not an isolated gesture. It builds upon the Adani Group’s increasing
involvement in community welfare during major religious and national events.
Adani Foundation teams were also on the ground at Puri. This year the support
includes nearly 4 million meals and drinks distributed free of cost; designated food
counters providing free, nutritious meals to pilgrims and officials; beverage
counters across the town offering cool drinks to beat the oppressive Odisha heat;
support for lifeguards from the Puri Beach Lifeguard Mahasangha; volunteers for
beach clean-up, especially plastic waste; free T-shirts for official volunteers;
fluorescent safety vests for municipal workers; and also a variety of jackets,
raincoats, caps and umbrellas for officials and devotees.
The seva effort is a collaboration between the Adani Group, the Puri district
administration, ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and local
volunteer organisations. The Group, which has been working in Odisha through the
Adani Foundation across sectors such as rural healthcare, school infrastructure and
livelihoods, sees this seva as part of a larger spiritual continuity in India’s
public life.
In an age where power is often displayed through optics, Mr. Adani’s quiet seva
during the Rath Yatra stood out as a rare act of devotion-led leadership. It
reminded the world that humility, when practiced with sincerity, becomes
transformative.
As the chariots of the deities rolled forward through a sea of faith, one of India’s
most influential industrialists walked silently behind—offering more than just
strength to the ropes, but his heart to the journey.
Earlier this year, during the 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, which ended on February 26,
the Group had supported food distribution and pilgrim welfare services on a massive
scale in collaboration with ISKCON and Gita Press. On 21 January, Mr. Adani
personally took part in seva at the mela, underscoring the Group’s message that
social service is not a sideline activity but a central value. Puri was a
continuation of that overarching sentiment—where corporate capability met spiritual
humility.
Lighting Lives in Odisha: How Adani Foundation is Powering Growth with
Goodness
Education Support:
• Infrastructure and quality education enhancements in government schools across
districts.
• Digital learning tools, scholarships, and remedial classes for students in rural
belts.
Healthcare Outreach:
• Mobile Health Units regularly serve remote tribal villages with basic medical
care.
• Specialised health camps for women and children in underserved areas.
Livelihood Empowerment:
• Skill development programmes for youth and women in tailoring, farming, and
fisheries.
• Promotion of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to boost women’s income generation.
Tribal Upliftment Initiatives:
• Focused interventions in tribal-dominated districts such as Dhamra and Rayagada.
• Cultural preservation efforts and community-led development models.
Community Infrastructure:
• Development of sanitation facilities, solar street lighting, and drinking water
systems.
• Renovation of village schools and community centres.
Sustainable Development:
• Plantation drives under the “Green Odisha” campaign.
• Water conservation through pond rejuvenation and rainwater harvesting.
Disaster Relief and Preparedness:
• Active support during cyclones with emergency supplies, shelter, and
rehabilitation
• Collaborations with local administration for disaster readiness training
Support during Rath Yatra:
• Providing free, nutritious meals for pilgrims and officials, sanitation campaigns,
health booths, and logistical assistance.
• Volunteering and seva activities during the nine-day festival.