Eating joint for monkeys coming up in MP temple town

An eating joint for monkeys (Vanar Bhojnalaya), perhaps first of its kind in India, will be constructed at Omkareshwar, one of the 12 Jyotirlings.

An eating joint for monkeys (Vanar Bhojnalaya), perhaps first of its kind in India, will be constructed at Omkareshwar, one of the 12 Jyotirlings.

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On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on March 30, a temporary eating joint was launched on a plot situated on the `Parikrama Path' (circling stretch) of the Omkareshwar temple, where a large number of monkeys enjoyed the inaugural feast.

The idea to establish such a joint came in the minds of two Indore-based social workers Anil Khandelwal and Harish Gehlot when they saw monkeys confronting pilgrims for food causing inconvenience to the visitors.

After laying the foundation stone for the joint, Khandelwal told PTI that monkeys will be served food and fruits of their liking at the place. The primates face difficulty in getting food and in the process create trouble for the visitors, he said.

There are nearly 5,000 monkeys in the temple town, about 70 kms from Khandwa, and initially food will be served to at least 1,000-1,500 of them daily. Depending upon the response, the facility will be extended to as many monkeys as possible, Khandelwal added.

People can serve food to monkeys on their own and can also contribute for running Vanar Bhojnalaya.