A Sino-Indian-Nepalese collaboration of Himalayan proportions
"Madhuban Foods bridges nations with its catering service for the Kailash Yatra, becoming the first Indian company to do so in China."
In a recent landmark decision, Madhuban Foods is mandated to deliver food for the entire Kailash yatra. A robust collaboration was formed between India, Nepal and China to conduct the pilgrimage season with a never-before experience of ‘sattvic’ food to the lakhs of pilgrims expected this year and onwards.
Mr. Prakash Shreshtha, President AKTON (Association of Kailash Tour Operators) and Mg. Director Explore Kailash Treks Pvt. Ltd, Nepal has joined hands with Mr. Sumit Partap Gupta, the Managing Director of Madhuban Foods for this noble venture.
Mr. Prakash Shrestha who is the Chief Coordinator of the project is ably supported by all AKTON members, to oversee the logistics for moving all goods and raw materials to China, and Mr. Sumit Partap Gupta of Madhuban Foods leading the operations on the ground.
Each year, the Kailash Mansarovar yatra is a major boost to the Nepalese economy. Mr. Prakash Shrestha has been playing a major role in the past, having served the pilgrims for over 25 years and has hugely contributed in the collaboration between all three countries, India, China and Nepal involved in the project. He points out that Chefs from India understand the Indian taste better and it is crucial that pilgrims are served food compatible to their food habits. In the arduous terrain of the yatra, when the pilgrims are well fed, they shall be able to complete the pilgrimage with total satisfaction. Better food and a professionally curated and standardised service will go a long way in creating influx of pilgrims, thereby creation of more job opportunities in Nepal.
This is a unique and maiden collaboration with China to provide the appropriate nutritious food that also palatable to the majority of pilgrims - Indian nationals. It not only is a feather in the glorious cap of Indo-China relations, it is also an accomplishment of strongest ties ever in the history of the two great nations.
Wan Quan Lin CEO of China-India Pilgrims Service Centre (CIPSC) stresses this pathbreaking collaboration addresses the focus and intent to serve fresh, nutritious and healthy food to all the pilgrims coming for the pilgrimage. Wan points out, “China has provided excellent roads, hotels and other facilities for the pilgrimage. This collaboration between India, China and Nepal evolves our service to the next level of excellence, ensuring vital meals to every pilgrim curated for their palate and health.”
Wan further mentions in the past years the operations pertaining to serving food to the yatris was restricted to the concept of moving kitchens. The kitchens were temporarily set wherever the group used to take halt. Once the pilgrim group reached their halting destination, the moving kitchen would then need to be set up, causing delay to the yatris who would be exhausted due to the rarefied air, and the arduousness. Most yatris often would sleep and rather than wait for the food to get ready. But now, pilgrims get hot and hygienic food immediately upon their arrival even when they land beyond midnight until 2am!
Furthermore, extensive arrangements have been made for packed lunches in specially designed insulated meal boxes that can carry meals along with fruit and packed fruit juices. He also appreciated the effort on the part of the team where they are providing jobs to local unemployed youngsters from the local community for greater participation and upliftment.
Sumit Partap Gupta has experienced the Kailash yatra for several years and is familiar with the difficulties that the operation presents. He explains that the operations are being conducted in harsh weather and hostile terrain. Provisions, groceries, vegetables as well as trained manpower, fuel, utensils, equipment and accessories needed to be transported to the remote locations enroute the Yatra to make the catering operations even possible. He is constantly travelling the route to ensure that the seven kitchens that undertake the operations are equipped and ready to serve hot and nutritious food to the tired devout, round the clock every day.
Last year approximately 20,000 pilgrims visited the Kailash Mansarovar yatra. This year, after over 10 weeks of continuous operations, Madhuban Foods has served over 6700 pilgrims. The difference between the years earlier and now is that this year, the yatris enjoy carefully crafted nutritious buffet spreads, served with passion from the heart and prayer to the Lord on the lips!
About Madhuban Foods:
Madhuban Foods, a by-product of a purposeful vocation, a soulful expression of service, started operations in 2012 at the footsteps of the Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine, Katra(J&K), with the focused vision to ‘serve nutritious food to devoted pilgrims’. Operations have further expanded to Shirdi – the home of the 20th Century Saint Shree SaiBaba alongwith a solid presence in Gurugram and London. Its organic evolution led to two verticals – ‘Madhuban Restaurant’ (Sattvic cuisine) and ‘Ahimsa the Vegan Café’.
Madhuban Foods is the official caterer to Shree Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan Trust for serving food to VVIP on 100 years of Shree Sai Baba Samadhi. Madhuban foods has served food to the Vice President of India and many other visiting dignitaries. Besides, since its inception, Madhuban foods has won 4 Certificates of Excellence from Trip Advisor for its excellence in running restaurant operations. However, what separates this operation with others is that in the abode of the Lord, all humans are equal. The cause of service brings uniform pricing for travel, food and service and gives pilgrim a fair price platform.
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