In the Hindu Dharma, Devi Annapurna is the incarnation of Devi Parvathi who appeared on the Earth in order to eliminate the issue of Food and Water. At the request of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and other devotees, Devi Parvathi decided to take the form of Devi Annapurna at the Poornima of Margashirsha month as per Hindu Calendar. This day is termed Annapurna Jayanti and is celebrated every year in different parts of the country.
When Annapurna Jayanti is Celebrated?
Annapurna Jayanti is devoted to Goddess Parvati who incarnated in the form of Annapurna Devi. In the month of Margashirsha, when the full moon day of Shukla Paksha arrives, the Annapurna Jayanti is commemorated by Hindu devotees.
In 2024, Annapurna Jayanti will be celebrated on 14th December (Sunday). Last year in 2023, Annapurna Jayanti was celebrated on the 26th Dec. People who fast and worship with absolute commitment and dedication on this auspicious day receive special blessings from Devi Annapurna, and their families live in peace and harmony and never run out of food, money, and water.
In South India, people believe that Annapurane Jayanti occurs on the 4th day of Durga Navratri and they celebrate on that day. On the other hand, people in the eastern region celebrate it in the month of Chaitra.
Why is Annapurna Jayanti Celebrated?
According to the Hindu religious texts, once upon a time, there was a shortage of food on the earth, then Mata Parvarti took the incarnation of Annapurna Devi on the full moon day of Shukla Paksha in order to fulfill the need for food on the earth. So, in order to worship the Annapurna Devi appearance of Mata Parvarti, the people of India celebrate Annapurna Jayanti and pray to fulfill all their wishes.
How Annapurna Puja is Celebrated?
First and foremost, worshippers must clean the worship space and kitchen early in the morning. People should next sprinkle Gangajal to purify their homes, worship venues, and kitchens, and then worship the kitchen’s gas stove with Haldi, Kumkum, Akshat, and flowers.
Place the idol of Devi Annapurna in the worship venue and take a thread and tie 17 knots in it, then add Chandan and Kumkum to it and put it near the photo or idol of Annapurna Devi. Afterward, Devotees present Goddess with gorgeous sarees and jewelry.
People sing the Aarti after reading Annapurna Devi’s Katha and then pray to Annapurna Devi for her blessings and favors. People should offer food to the poor and disadvantaged, then they must distribute the Prasad when the ritual is over.
Significance of Annapurna Jayanti
In the Hindu Mythology, Annapurna Devi is known as the Goddess of food who took birth to eliminate the problem of food on the earth. In Annapurna, Anna refers to Food whereas Purna indicates Full i.e, Complete Food. This shows that the house where Annapurna Devi is worshiped with pure heart and soul will never remain empty. She makes our life healthy and satisfactory by providing the most basic necessity of human life i.e Food and Water. On the auspicious day of Annapurna Jayanti, devotees can get the blessings of Devi Annapurna by worshiping her.
Legend of Annpurna Jayanti
According to a legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi once had a disagreement while playing dice. According to Lord Shiva, everything that exists on the earth is a hallucination that includes food too. Devi Parvathi disagreed with Lord Shiva’s concept and departed Kailash Parvat, causing the food to vanish from the world. Parvathi sought to demonstrate the significance of food to both the world and Lord Shiva.
When the entire world was in need of food, Lord Vishnu and Brahma asked Devi Parvathi to take the form of Annapurna Devi and satiate the world’s hunger. Devi Parvathi took the shape of Devi Annapurna, and removed the hunger of the world by providing them with sufficient food and water, and thus the world survived and thrived.