About Us
Three decades of a sacred yagna of selfless service
O Mother, You alone are the doer... You alone...
Come to our aid, Meladi Maa of Jasalpur...
In seva itself dwells the living presence of Jagadamba, mother of the universe.
Seva itself is sadhana, and devotion is life's finest ornament.
The pilgrim themselves is a form of Mataji, and serving them is our greatest sadhana.
By the boundless blessings of Bhagwati Meladi Maa and Ambaji Maa, and the sacred values passed down by our parents, gurus and ancestors, ‘Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra’ has, for the last three decades, kept alive a sacred yagna of selfless, continuous and free service to the lakhs of pilgrims walking to Ambaji.
For us, seva is not a program — it is worship of Mataji, the living embodiment of an unshakable belief that serving devotees is itself serving God.
For us, seva is not mere arrangement; it is faith, it is sanskar, and a sacred yagna offered at Mataji's feet. We see the form of Mataji in every pilgrim, and so fulfilling their every need is our highest duty.
Certificate of Honor
Recognised by Shri Aarasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust and the government administration for years of selfless seva at the Bhadarvi Poonam Mahamelo
Certificate of Honour
Certificate of Honour
Certificate of Honour
Certificate of Honour
Our Services
So that every pilgrim feels the warmth of home, Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra offers the following services completely free of charge.
Health Seva
- Round-the-clock medical service with a doctor present
- Emergency treatment
- Leg massage (vibrator foot-massage machine) and rest facilities
Bhojan Seva (Food Service)
- Tea, snacks and pure drinking water, 24 hours a day
- Mahaprasad in the afternoon
- Mahaprasad in the evening
Rest & Comfort
- Overnight stay
- Hot water bathing
- Mobile charging
- Baggage room to store belongings
Our 30-Year Journey
What began as a small resolve has grown into a place of blessing for thousands of pilgrims
The Beginning of Seva
From a small resolve to a grand seva
By the boundless blessings of our parents, gurus and ancestors, and the divine grace of our kuldevi Bhagwati Meladi Maa and Ambaji Maa, mother of the universe, Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra was founded in the holy month of Bhadarva, 1996.
This seva did not begin from any plan — it was born from a selfless feeling inspired purely by Mataji. This sacred yagna began with a small offering of just water, tea and biscuits at Ambika Complex in the Krishnanagar area of Ahmedabad.
At that time, Shri Bakabhai Patel, along with Shri Bhala Kaka and Shri Pradipbhai who worked alongside him — these three seva-minded brothers started this work with a single resolve: ‘No pilgrim walking towards Ambaji should ever feel thirst, hunger or discomfort, and every pilgrim should be served selflessly.’
Many more seva-minded souls gradually joined this sacred resolve, and their dedication, mutual cooperation and unwavering faith in Mataji transformed this small effort into a sacred seva-yagna.
In the early days, Shri Ishwarkaka the chai-wala gave invaluable support. With the blessings and financial support of Shrimati Shantaba Madhavdas Parivar (of Jasalpur), the entire cost of the seva in 1996 came to just ₹486.
The amount was small, but the feeling behind the seva was priceless. Every cup of tea, every glass of water and every biscuit carried just one feeling — ‘Serving Mataji's devotees is serving Mataji herself.’
In 1997, by Mataji's grace, a small 10×10 ft mandap was set up in the second year. That year, pilgrims were lovingly served bundi, chavanu, tea and drinking water.
Shri Bhala Kaka and his family played a hugely important role in this entire seva. This arrangement continued faithfully for two to three years.
During that period, whenever a pilgrim needed a meal, volunteers would cook puri-shaak at their own homes and serve it lovingly as prasad. When the number of pilgrims grew, meals were prepared at the nearby Shivshakti Hotel for just ₹20 per person.
Shrimati Shantaba Madhavdas Parivar (of Jasalpur) continued to give invaluable support throughout. In this way, by Mataji's grace, the small seed sown here slowly began to grow into a vast banyan tree.
The Golden Growth of Seva
From a small resolve to a vast seva-yagna...
By the boundless grace of Bhagwati Meladi Maa and Ambaji Maa, mother of the universe, the number of pilgrims kept growing year after year. To ensure Mataji's devotees received even better and more comfortable seva, Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra kept climbing new steps of growth with time.
In 2001, bataka poha was served to pilgrims for the first time. Alongside this, a nightly arrangement of puri-shaak prasad was also started, so that devotees arriving after a long padyatra could eat with love and dignity.
From this time, the seva kendra's kitchen began operating out of Gopal Traders — Shri Bhala Kaka's godown. This kitchen was not merely a place to cook — it became a sacred seva-dham where prasad was prepared for thousands of pilgrims.
As the number of pilgrims grew, keeping their need for rest in mind, the seva kendra made special arrangements for overnight stays at Rajkamal Complex, Ambika Complex and Vijay Park Complex in Krishnanagar, Ahmedabad. Shri Pradipbhai played a vital role in this effort.
Keeping the rising number of pilgrims in mind, the mandap was expanded to nearly 45×60 ft. In addition, facilities such as chairs to sit on, mattresses for rest, drinking water arrangements and hot water for bathing became available by Mataji's grace — hot water was prepared in large drums for pilgrims during this time.
One day, a few pilgrims expressed a need for medicine for leg pain. Medicines were brought from the nearby Shri Hari Medical and given to them. This small moment gave birth to a whole new chapter at the seva kendra — the beginning of medical seva. Over time, pain-relief medicines, massage tubes and a vibrator foot-massage machine were also added, to bring relief to weary pilgrims.
Many seva-minded individuals and organisations made invaluable contributions to this growth. Shri Monubhai of Varsha Mandap Decoration gave continuous support for everything related to the mandap. Residents of all the nearby complexes also embraced the seva as their own and extended their support. Shri Amrutkaka (Vijay Park) and Shri Alpeshbhai lent their two-wheelers and car to the seva kendra for nearly ten days at a stretch, making many essential tasks easier.
A major turning point came when Shri Vinodbhai Patel (Poonam Light) joined the seva kendra. He took complete responsibility for the seva kendra's lighting on his own shoulders. Thanks to his selfless support, the entire seva kendra remained lit throughout, and his service continues to inspire everyone to this day.
From 1996 to 2010, during the seva held at Ambika Complex, Dr. Hirenbhai Parikh gave continuous, selfless support to the medical seva. Because of his dedication and service, thousands of pilgrims received timely treatment and guidance.
This period was not just one of growth; it was a period of trust, cooperation and the continuous expansion of a selfless spirit of service. Every volunteer, every donor and every collaborator treated this seva-yagna as their own family and carried it forward.
The Grand Expansion at Nana Chiloda
Wherever there is seva, there resides Mataji.
As time passed, the padyatra routes began to change. Keeping pilgrims' movement and convenience in mind, Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra took an important decision in line with the changing times. During 2010, the number of pilgrims in the Krishnanagar area started declining, so, inspired by Mataji and with everyone's consent, the decision was taken to move the seva kendra to a more suitable location.
From 2011, the seva kendra began afresh at Nana Chiloda, near Sardar Patel Ring Road, beside Gagan Hotel. This relocation was not merely a change of place — it was a fresh resolve to deliver seva more effectively to thousands of pilgrims.
At Nana Chiloda, Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra started more organised and well-equipped services for pilgrims. Throughout the day, pilgrims were lovingly served tea and pure drinking water, bataka poha, an afternoon Mahaprasad of mohanthal, puri, shaak, dal, rice and papad, and an evening Mahaprasad of shiro, khichdi and kadhi. Thousands of pilgrims accepted this prasad not merely as food, but as Mataji's blessing.
Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra did not limit its work to food alone; it gave equal priority to pilgrims' health and rest. During this period, the seva kendra offered round-the-clock medical service, treatment in a doctor's presence, hot water for bathing, mineral drinking water, a massage machine for leg-pain relief, and necessary medicines and first aid. For weary pilgrims, these services proved to be a true blessing.
The contribution of women (behnon) in this entire seva-yagna was also deeply significant. From preparing prasad to kitchen work, washing utensils and maintaining cleanliness, many women served selflessly. Their dedication and commitment kept the seva kendra's atmosphere clean, well-organised and filled with a sense of family.
No seva-yagna can succeed without the support of society. Many seva-minded individuals and organisations gave selfless support over the years — Shri Rakeshbhai of Varsha Mandap Decoration (2005–2023) with chairs and mattresses; Haridham Decoration (2012–2024) with the mandap's beautiful, systematic arrangement; Gopal Traders (Shri Bhala Kaka) and Shri Ram Bricks (Shri Rasikbhai) with essential materials like bricks, sand and cement; the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, through Shri Vishnubhai, with mobile toilet facilities; Rati Kaka of Gagan Hotel with various needs of the seva kendra; and for the last ten years, Patidar Sound (Shri Maheshbhai) with sound system service, given entirely selflessly. The contribution of all these collaborators, who treated the seva kendra as their own, will always be remembered. Without their love, trust and cooperation, this seva-yagna would not have been possible. We express our heartfelt gratitude to every one of them.
The greatest strength and true identity of Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra is not its grand arrangements, but its selfless volunteers. The seva kendra's greatest force is not its building or equipment, but the volunteers who give selfless seva for thousands of hours. Their one and only resolve is: ‘May no devotee of Mataji ever face any difficulty during the journey.’ Many volunteers served tirelessly day and night. For them, serving Mataji's devotees always came before fatigue, sleep or personal discomfort.
This period at Nana Chiloda remains a golden era in the history of Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra. Facilities grew, pilgrims' trust grew, the number of volunteers grew, and — most importantly — the spirit behind the seva never changed.
A New Chapter of Seva from Vaktapur
The place of seva may change, but the resolve to serve never does.
By the boundless grace of Bhagwati Meladi Maa and Ambaji Maa, mother of the universe, the support of donors, and the tireless effort of volunteers, in 2024 Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra began a new and glorious chapter. From this year, the seva kendra began operating at Sattavis Gol Prajapati Samajwadi, opposite Sai Mandir, Vaktapur (Himatnagar). This relocation was not just a change of place — inspired by Mataji, it was a sacred resolve to deliver more organised and quality seva to thousands of pilgrims.
As soon as the seva began at Vaktapur, the village leaders, community elders and local volunteers embraced the seva kendra as their own and extended wholehearted support — particularly the organisers of Sattavis Gol Prajapati Samajwadi, the priest of Sai Mandir, and the leaders, villagers and volunteers of Vaktapur and the surrounding villages, all of whom work selflessly for this seva. Because of their love, trust and cooperation, the seva kendra has, in a very short time, become a blessing for thousands of pilgrims.
Various government departments also gave commendable support to this seva work. The local police department, the health department team and journalist friends continue to give constant guidance and cooperation to the seva kendra, making the entire effort more organised, secure and effective.
The seva kendra's greatest secret of success is its volunteers. With no desire for recognition, with no expectations, purely for devotion to Mataji and service to pilgrims — countless young people, elders, women and seva-minded members of society serve tirelessly, day and night. Some volunteers stand and serve for hours on end. Tired... sleepy... their bodies asking for rest... yet on their faces there is only one joy — ‘that no devotee of Mataji faced any difficulty today.’ This very feeling is the true identity of Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra.
Our Vision
That every Ambaji pilgrim experiences the warmth of home — safe, healthy, respected, close-knit and served selflessly — so that their journey becomes more joyful, secure and spiritual.
Our Mission
To worship Mataji through service to humanity; to honour and serve every pilgrim as a member of our own family; to ensure that no pilgrim ever goes hungry, thirsty, unwell or without shelter; and to keep this tradition of faith, values and devotion alive for the generations to come.
30 Years of Glorious Journey
Every great journey begins with a small step. Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra, too, began with the resolve of just three seva-minded brothers. What started in 1996 with nothing more than water, tea and biscuits has today grown into a vast seva-yagna for thousands of pilgrims.
Along this journey, countless donors joined, many families joined, thousands of volunteers gave their time, and lakhs of devotees offered their blessings. These 30 years belong to no single person — this is a journey of faith, of devotion, and of service.
This seva, running continuously for three decades, is not merely the success of one institution; it is a living tradition of faith, trust and devotion. The satisfied smile on the faces of thousands of pilgrims every year is our greatest reward.
Gratitude
As we complete 30 years of this seva journey, our hearts overflow with pride, joy and gratitude.
We offer our heartfelt thanks to every founder, elder, donor, collaborator, doctor, the police department, government machinery, journalist friends, villagers, and — most importantly — every single volunteer who has stood behind this seva for years.
All those who kept this seva-yagna alive through their labour, time and devotion are our source of inspiration.
Our Resolve
By Mataji's grace, in the years to come too... may no pilgrim remain thirsty... may none go hungry... may none go without treatment... may none be left without shelter...
‘For as long as Mataji's grace remains, this seva will never stop.’
With this same resolve, Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra will carry this selfless seva-yagna forward with even greater glory in the years ahead.
We pray that the unbroken grace of Bhagwati Meladi Maa and Ambaji Maa, mother of the universe, rains down upon all of us, that we are given the strength to carry this sacred seva-yagna forward with ever more devotion, faith and love, and that it continues unbroken for generations to come.
O Mother, always grant us the chance to serve. May our hands bring relief to a devotee, may a smile appear on someone's face, and may every act of seva keep being offered at your feet.
Seva Paramo Dharmaha — Service is the highest duty.
Serving humanity is the truest worship of the Mother.
Seva is our sadhana... and a pilgrim's smile is our greatest blessing.
Seva in every step…
Devotion in every breath…
Jagadamba, mother of the universe, in every act…
Jay Madi Ambaji Padyatri Seva Kendra is not merely a service center — it is a living family, built from the love, devotion and faith of thousands of selfless souls.