High calorie diet goes off Amarnath Yatra menu

Jammu, Feb 11 (PTI) All fried and high calorie food items have been taken off the menu to be served to pilgrims during the Amarnath Yatra later this year, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) informed here today. "All fried and high calorie fatty items like poori, bhatoora, pizza, burger, stuffed parantha, dosa and fried roti, bread butter, cream/butter based food, and all other fried/fast food, cold drinks, high caloric sweet dishes and intoxicants have been banned," CEO, SASB, Navin K Choudhary said. He, though, said that high protein food, which provides stamina and keeps body light, have been permitted to be served to the Yatris. The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Chairman of SASB N N Vohra has asked Choudhary to ensure effective implementation of the expert advice received and revise the terms and conditions of the langar permissions to bind the officials to serve food to the yatris strictly in accordance with the menu. The CEO informed that the Special High Powered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court had earlier observed that a large number of food items included in the menu of langar organisations were not suitable for the pilgrims, who are required to trek in high altitude areas. It had recommended that an expert committee should prepare an appropriate food menu to be adhered to by the langar organisations, he said. PTI SNK AB DBR