Devotees pray at the temple. Picture by Manas Paran

Nov. 17: Small is big at times. The Gujarati community in the city may number just around 400 but it has been making a difference to thousands of lives through various philanthropic activities.

The latest in this tradition is a temple in Fatasil Ambari to ?feed the poor?, which will be inaugurated tomorrow.

Annapurna, the goddess of food, is the presiding deity at the Jalaram Bapa temple, named after an 18th century saint of Gujarat. Other gods from the Hindu pantheon like Ram, Sita Hanuman and Ganesha also find their places of honour in this temple. Besides, there is also a statue of saint Jalaram.

Free meals will be served to children and the underprivileged every Thursday and Saturday and on the 24th day of every month.

?The purpose of building the temple was to spread the message of brotherhood and social service,? said Shoban Vyas of Shree Jalaram Bhakt Mandal, the managing committee of the temple.

Many other temples and religious places in the city provide free meal to the poor, but the uniqueness of this temple is its presiding deity, Annapurna. ?Providing food to the hungry is the prime objective behind the temple,? he said.

The temple will be formally inaugurated by Geetanath Bapu, a revered saint of the community, who has come all the way from Gujarat for the purpose. The inauguration coincides with the birth anniversary of saint Jalaram tomorrow.

The committee has also been providing free education to street children in association with Lions Club of Nilachal. Vyas said it has been providing free basic education to 25 street children besides distributing free books, dresses and stationery to needy children. With the establishment of the temple its social activities would gain momentum, Vyas said.

The committee is planning to impart free adult education and computer education at the temple premises. Organising free medical camps and distributing medicines are some of the other activities the committee is taking up.

The Assam Gujarat Voluntary Trust run by the community is involved in several social activities such as running a charitable blood bank. The establishment of the temple will add a new dimension to the continuing efforts of the community to serve others.