The court of Mother Annapurna, who donated food to Kashi Puradhipati, was decorated with earrings of paddy.

Varanasi, 07 December (HS). The court of Mother Annapurna, who donated food to Kashi Puradhipati Baba Visheshwar (Shri Kashi Vishwanath), was decorated with earrings of paddy on Saturday. The occasion was the conclusion of Matarani’s 17-day Mahavrat. The devotees observed Mahavrat by tying a thread of 17 knots on their arms for 17 days and ate fruits only once.

On the beginning of the fast, devotees reached the court of Mata Rani to break their vows and do darshan worship. Before this, under the supervision of Peethadhishwar Shankarpuri Maharaj of the temple, the Archakas bathed the Mother in the mid-day Bhog Aarti. After wearing new clothes and jewellery, she performed grand adornment with 21 quintals of paddy earrings and performed the aarti. After the Aarti, the doors of the temple were opened for the common devotees to have darshan. As per tradition on the festival, Mother’s court was decorated with earrings of paddy. Farmers from the districts of Purvanchal including Varanasi kept taking blessings of the Mother Goddess by offering the first crop of their fields. Prasad of paddy earring will be distributed among the devotees on Sunday. Which devotees and farmers keep in their grain stores.

Mahant Shankar Puri Maharaj of the temple told that Goddess Annapurna has a special place in Hindu religion. It is believed that the house where Goddess Bhagwati resides is always full of food grains. He said that by observing this Mahavrat, any kind of sorrow and suffering goes away and happiness remains in the family. He told that farmers from the districts of Purvanchal were coming from Friday to deliver the paddy crop to Maa Annapurna temple.