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Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of Lancaster, United States with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Annapurna Jayanti is celebrated on the Purnima Tithi of Margashirsha month. Annapurna Jayanti is a sacred festival in Hinduism, observed as the appearance day of Goddess Annapurna. She is revered as the presiding deity of food, nourishment and sustenance. The main temple of Goddess Annapurna is located in Varanasi, where She is worshipped as the consort of Lord Shiva and the Goddess of Anna-Daan, i.e., food donation.
Descriptions of Goddess Annapurna are found in the Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana and other Agama scriptures. According to legend, once Lord Shiva declared that the material world is Maya, i.e., illusion and that even Anna, i.e., food is a form of Maya. Hearing this, Goddess Parvati withdrew all food from the world. As a result, a severe famine struck the earth and all living beings, humans and animals began to suffer due to the lack of food. Lord Shiva then realized His mistake and sought forgiveness from Goddess Parvati. At that moment, She appeared in the form of Goddess Annapurna and began distributing food to the residents of Kashi. Since then, the worship of Goddess Annapurna gained prominence.
This event signifies that food is the foundation of life and it's not merely physical but a divine gift. Goddess Annapurna is considered the Goddess of generosity and nourishment. Scriptures say that offering food is the greatest form of charity and those who worship Annapurna are blessed with abundance, peace and prosperity in their homes.
On Annapurna Jayanti, devotees bathe early in the morning and worship the Goddess Annapurna. The offerings include grains, fruits, flowers, incense, Diya, Naivedya and water. Special emphasis is placed on Anna-Daan on this day. People earn merit by donating grains, cooked food and clothing to the needy. It is believed that Anna-Daan or food donation on this day yields eternal rewards. In Varanasi, Annapurna Jayanti is celebrated with great devotion. At the Annapurna Temple in Kashi, devotees gather for grand Darshan and Aarti. Thousands of people are served food in a massive community feast, i.e., Annakshetra. It is a tradition here that even Lord Shiva accepts alms from Goddess Annapurna on this day. The essence of this festival is the acknowledgment by Lord Shiva Himself that food holds supreme importance in the world.
From a religious perspective, fasting and worship on Annapurna Jayanti are believed to eradicate poverty and eliminate all forms of scarcity. It brings wealth, grains and prosperity to one's home, and the devotees never have a shortage of food. Chanting the name of Goddess Annapurna and worshipping Her on this day can even lead to Moksha. The scriptures describe the form of Goddess Annapurna as extremely divine and graceful. She holds a Golden Vessel in one hand and displays a compassionate gesture of distributing food with the other. Lord Shiva is depicted standing before Her with a Begging Bowl, symbolizing that even the greatest of Gods recognizes the importance of food and the divine feminine power.
