Varanasi,

26 Nov (HS): The 17-day Mahavrat ritual of Goddess Annapurna concluded on

Wednesday in the religious city of Varanasi (Kashi), Uttar Pradesh. The

temple's court echoed with chants of Victory to the Goddess. The

temple's Mahant, Shankar Puri, performed a grand Bhog Aarti.

Following this, a queue of devotees waited until the temple closed late at

night to have darshan of the Goddess. Devotees, both men and women, dressed in

white, concluded their fast by offering 17 types of food to Goddess Annapurna.

As per tradition, the entire court was decorated with new paddy stalks at the

end of the fast. From the temple premises to the sanctum sanctorum, the entire

temple was adorned with paddy stalks.

This

fast began on November 10. Women perform the Udyapan (completion

ceremony) after observing this fast for 17 days, 17 months, and 17 years. The devotees,

after completing the fast, sought the Goddess's blessings for happiness and

prosperity. Mahant Shankar Puri explained that new paddy stalks are offered to

the temple every year by farmers from Purvanchal. The first harvest of paddy is

offered at the feet of Goddess Annapurna. These paddy ears were distributed

among the devotees as prasad. It is believed that keeping these paddy ears in

the granary ensures prosperity throughout the year.

He

stated that on November 27, these paddy ears will be distributed among the

devotees as prasad. According to the temple's Mahant, devotees who observe the

Mahavrata for 17 days will never face a shortage of food, wealth, and

prosperity throughout their lives. The fast and worship of Goddess Annapurna

bestows physical, divine, and material happiness. This fast is observed with

the desire for food, wealth, prosperity, health, and children. It is noteworthy

that the Goddess Annapurna temple is the only temple in the entire country

where devotees offer the first paddy ear. Farmers from various districts of

Purvanchal offer the first ear of their paddy harvest to the Goddess. They then

place the same ear as prasad in their second paddy harvest. Farmers believe

that doing so increases their crop yields. This fast begins on the fifth day of

the dark fortnight of the month of Margashirsha (Agahan).

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi