Many an organisation in the city provides free water and buttermilk to the thirsty during summer. Here is an organisation which does this service a bit differently: they provide an unlimited supply of free butter milk. At 11 a.m. every day, people throng the stall put up Sree Gayathri Trust, Chromepet, to give way the buttermilk.

“It’s our way of helping people get through summer. Buttermilk, apart from quenching thirst, is also good for health,” says G. Raghavan, founder, Sree Gayathri Trust.

The stall was set up on Monday (April 21) in memory of professor S. Narasimhan of Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet.

“The stall will be around till the end of May. Every day, around 300 litres of buttermilk will be served free, and I ensure that quality and hygienic buttermilk is served,” says Raghavan. The buttermilk is laced with curry leaves, coriander, salt and asafoetida. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus drivers halt their vehicles to have buttermilk in bottles. Daily around 600 people visit the stall, which is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Sweating, tiredness, muscle cramps, nausea and headaches would reduce significantly if buttermilk is consumed. Very soon, I am going to distribute free curd rice packets for people to beat the summer,” he says.

B. Raja, an autorickshaw driver, and a resident of Pallavaram says, “This buttermilk served here is tasty. Whenever I drive through this area, I make it a point to stop at the stall.”

People from Pallavaram, Tambaram and Tambaram Sanatorium are also regular to the stall. Those who want to contribute towards this work, can contact G. Raghavan at 044 22654777 or at 9444022033.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Downtown / by T. S. Atul Swaminathan / Chennai – May 01st, 2014