India proudly wears the moniker “incredible” since it has countless reasons to earn it. The top 5 largest kitchens in the nation and the method of feeding people in the most pure and humane way further enhance its distinctiveness.
Dharmasthala (Karnataka)
Feeding 50,000 people per day, that too with environmentally friendly methods using bio-gas, is a startling task. The most eccentric temple in India is the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple in Dharmasthala, which is devoted to Lord Shiva but whose priests are Vaishnava and whose management is handled by the Jain Heggade family. The Bhagavan Baahubali statue is the main draw to the temple town of Dharmasthala, and the temple also houses one of India’s Mega Kitchens.
Shirdi, Maharashtra’s Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust is home to one of India’s largest solar kitchens, which has three mammoth kitchen halls. Every day, 40,000 meals and breakfast packs are prepared in Shirdi, Maharashtra, in a gigantic kitchen. The building, which features a statue of Sai Baba and a cooking pot at the entryway, is powered by 73 big solar panels and can accommodate 3200 people for a free dinner at once. There is another seating area, though, where people who don’t feel comfortable mingling with the crowds can order the meal of their choice and pay for it.
Jagaenath Temple( Puri)
The Hindu belief suggests the universe’s Lord is Sri Jagannath. The biggest and largest kitchen in the world is thought to be his. It is located in the southeast corner of Srimandir’s outer compound. The kitchen is approximately 20 feet tall, 150 feet long, and 100 feet wide. It has 250 earthen ovens spread out over 32 rooms. Every day, some 600 cooks (Suaras) and 400 assistants work here to prepare the Lord’s food. The kitchen of Srimandir has three different types of hearths, including Anna Chuli, Ahia Chuli, and Pitha Chuli. On the days of major festivals, one to ten million people are accommodated and fed. As a result, the Lord Jagannath temple kitchen is regarded as the largest in the world, feeding everyone without reservations or advance notice.
Golden Temple (Punjab)
The largest free kitchen in the world is in the Golden Temple Langar. This food hall serves 100,000 people free meals every day and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Furthermore, on holy days, that number can quadruple.Since the advent of Sikhism, community kitchens, or langar, have gained popularity throughout South Asia. Additionally, since 1577, meals have been available at the Golden Temple’s Langar.
Akshaya Patra
Located in Hubli, Karnataka, the ISCKON Foundations Akshaya Patra is a nonprofit institution. It is known to produce meals for close to 150,000 people in under five hours. Thousands of children attending rural schools receive meals through the largest school lunch programme run by ISCKON. The meals come in hygienic, nutritional containers.