Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board releases list of permitted & banned food items for Amaranth Yatra

In Jammu and Kashmir, acting tough on junk and unhealthy food, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) said that foods including halwa puri, samosas, jalebi, gulab jamun, etc., will not be served to Yatris during this year’s pilgrimage. 

Over 120 langars (community Kitchens) are being established this year for the pilgrims along the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal leading to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnatha Ji. Focusing on the health of the pilgrims, the SASB has released a list of permitted and banned meals, food items at Langars and made it clear that no junk and fried food will be allowed to be served at the langars. 

A list of banned and permitted items has also been shared with the langer authorities that includes, poori, bathura, pizza, burgar, stuffed parantha, dosa, fried Roti, bread with butter, cream-based foods, pickle, chutney, fried papad, chowmein and all other fried or fast foods, cold drinks, and karrah halwa, jalebi, gulab jamun, laddu, khoya burfi, rasgulla and all other halwai items besides snacks (high in fat and salts) chips/kurkure, matthi, namkeen mixture, pakora, samosa, fried dry fruits and all other deep fried items.

However, non-vegetarian foods, alcohol, tobacco, gutka, pan masala, cigarettes, and other intoxicants are also banned during the 62-day-long annual pilgrimage of Amaranth Ji that will begin on July 1. The meals on the permitted menu include cereals, pulses, green vegetables, green salad, fruits and sprouts, rice, jaggery, sambar, idli, uttapam, poha, herbal tea, coffee, low fat curd, sharbat, lemon squash/water, figs, raisins, apricots, and other dry fruits.