Annalakshmi

Annalakshmi is an international chain of vegetarian restaurants started in 1985 by Swami Shantanand Saraswathi and operating on the uncommon principle of trust in humanity, as it encourages patrons to pay what they believe is fair.[1][2] The name derives from the Hindu goddess of abundance, as a compound word obtained from Annam (Tamil/Telugu language) (food) and Lakshmi (the eponymous deity).[3] It is the culinary division of the non-profit organization Temple of Fine Arts (TFA).[4][5]

Annalakshmi
TypeSouthern and Northern Indian Vegetarian specialities
IndustryFood
Founded1985
Headquarters
Malaysia,
Area served
Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, India

History

First started in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur) Malaysia by Swami Shantanand Saraswathi, a Hindu religious teacher who relocated in the 1970s from Rishikesh in India with a vision of the world without hunger in 1985.[6][3] Annalakshmi has branches in Australia, Singapore[7] and India. The system in these restaurants allows patrons to “eat as they wish and pay as they feel”.[6] The Coimbatore branch (started 1989), is known to participate in local charities and support the fine arts.[8] In 2013, the Chennai branch won the Times Food and Nightlife Award, in the category Best South Indian Restaurant (Stand-alone).[9]

The Annalakshmi restaurant chain is run by members of spiritual group led by Swami Shantanand, and serves Southern and Northern Indian Vegetarian specialities.

See also

References
  1. Mecklin, John (6 April 2005). "The Karmic Kitchen". SF Weekly. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. "Annalakshmi Australia: Mission". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015. As our concept goes...Eat What You Want, Give What You Feel We Believe in You, We Trust You.
  3. Sankar R.N., Ajith (11 October 2008). "Annalakshmi Foods: Manifesting Attributes of Love, Serve and Give". GNA Journal of Management and Technology. 3 (1): 138–144. SSRN 1568783.
  4. Phang, Llew-Ang (3 December 2014). "Embracing togetherness". The Malaysian Insider. The Edge Financial Daily. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015. The non-profit organisation has managed to survive and sustain on its "pay as you wish" concept...
  5. Yogalingam, Serena. "Dance India, Taste India". Law Gazette. The Law Society of Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. "Thanks to volunteers, diners can pay as they wish at this vegetarian restaurant in KL". CNA. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  7. "Indian restaurant in S'pore allows diners to pay whatever they want for a buffet meal". mothership.sg. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  8. Srinivasan, Pankaja (22 September 2014). "Served with grace". The Hindu: Metroplus Food. Coimbatore. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  9. Sangeetha, P (7 February 2013). "Times Food & Nightlife Awards in Chennai". Times of India: Food Reviews. Times News Network. Retrieved 29 March 2015.

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