Annapūrṇā Pūjā 2083

Annapurna Puja (অন্নপূর্ণা পূজা) falls on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, the Ashtami of the spring Basanti Puja. It is the worship of Ma Annapurna, "she who is full of food", who feeds every living being.

By the old story, when Shiva declared that food was only illusion, the Goddess withdrew, and the world fell into famine; Shiva himself came to her with his begging bowl, and she filled it, teaching that food is sacred. At Varanasi she is worshipped beside Vishwanath, and in Bengal her image shows her with a ladle and a bowl of rice, feeding Shiva.

Homes offer new rice, sweets and fruits, and feed guests and the needy in her name.