By Sarat Paikray
Billionaire Woman Devotee: The air everywhere is filled with the spirit of Rath Yatra. Not just in Odisha, but across the country and even abroad, the grand chariot festival is being celebrated. However, there’s a unique place in Odisha where the Rath Yatra is graced by the presence of one of India’s billionaire women devotees. And she’s not just wealthy—her family business is valued at around ₹12,300 crore.
We are talking about the Rath Yatra held at the Jagannath Temple inside the Jindal Company campus in Angul, Odisha. Among those who participated in Pahandi of Lord and Chhera Pahanra on Rath was Shallu Jindal — the wife of Navin Jindal, Chairman of the prestigious Jindal Steel & Power Company. Shallu Jindal currently serves as the Chairperson of the Jindal Foundation and is also the Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University.
Shallu Jindal is the daughter-in-law of India’s prominent businesswoman Savitri Jindal. Savitri is the mother of Navin Jindal. The entire Jindal family is deeply rooted in business. Despite being married into one of the country’s most influential industrialist families, Shallu Jindal has always remained humble. She is also a renowned Kuchipudi Classical Dancer in India.
The Jindal family has established a magnificent Jagannath Temple inside the Jindal Company premises in Angul, where the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are worshipped. Every year, the Rath Yatra is celebrated there with great devotion and grandeur. Three chariots are specially built for the occasion, and the festival is observed with full traditional rituals.
A heartwarming aspect of this celebration is that every year, the entire Jindal family visits Angul to participate in the Rath Yatra. This year too, Savitri Jindal, Navin Jindal, and his wife Shallu Jindal were present. Navin Jindal traditionally performs the ceremonial Chhera Pahanra (sweeping of the chariot platform) every year. During this year’s Bahuda Yatra (return journey), Shallu Jindal also participated and performed the Chhera Pahanra in Navin Jindal’s absence. In this Angul Rath Yatra, along with company employees, the local public also participates with great joy.
