In Hinduism, there are diverse gods and goddesses that exist for several earthly materials, like money. In several Indian regions, Hindus worship the goddess of food and nourishment Annapurna, another incarnation of Goddess Parvati.
In Sanskrit, ‘Anna’ means ‘food’ or ‘grains’, and ‘Purna’ means ‘full’. So, “Annapurna” or “Annapoorna” stands as “the giver of food and nourishment”. In different Indian sub-continents, mother Annapurna is worshiped in other names, like ‘Annada’– who gives food, ‘Visalakkhi’– the goddess with large eyes, ‘Viswamata’– mother of the world, etc.
In the Hindu month Chaitra, on the day of Shukla Panchami, people praise goddess Annapurna with proper Annapurna puja rituals and procedures by preparing various foods as the prayer offering to the goddess. Later, the food is distributed among devotees as Prasad (prayer gift). Her devotees also chant Annapurna Stotra and recite Annapurna Vrat Katha on the day of the Annapurna Puja festival.
Also, Hindus believe in donating food, called “Annadana”, imparting value to the food or Anna. Eventually, the significance and influence of the goddess Annapurna is such high in Hinduism that mount Annapurna in the mighty Himalayas is named after her.
So, food is the most vital and essential earthly substance, that, without it, no lives, especially humans, cannot survive the race. Therefore, you should definitely worship goddess Annapurna for a blessed life filled with food and nurture and stand against food wastage.
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