Thousands of devotees throng Kali Bari for Annakoot puja
LUCKNOW: Thousands of devotees thronged the 156-year-old Kali Bari at Ghasiyari Mandi on Monday morning for Annakoot puja where Chhappan Bhog was offered to the Goddess as a part of Govardhan Puja.
A day after Diwali (Kali Puja), Annakoot puja was a special attraction at various Kali Bari temples across the city. The Kali Bari temple in Ghasiyari Mandi witnessed grand celebrations where the Goddess Kali was offered 56 varieties of eatables, including fried rice, sweets, fruits, dry fruits, namkeens and paneer pakoda, said Abhijit Sarkar president of Kali Bari Temple Trust.
“A lot of significance is attached to this ritual. It is said that those who do darshan of Maa Annakoot will never sleep empty stomach,” Sarkar said.
The concept of offering 56 different types of food to the deity goes back to the legend of Lord Krishna who held Govardhan Parvat on his finger for a week. As food was served to Lord Krishna 8 times a day and this ritual was held for 7 days, it came to chhappan (56) bhog, said Dr Amit Goswami, purohit of the trust.
Anakoot puja was also held at Rabindra Palli, Gomti Nagar and Indira Nagar.
On Sunday, Kali Puja was celebrated at Ramakrishna Math throughout the night. The worship was performed by Swami Satyavidananda Maharaj who came from Ramakrishna Math, Ooty in Tamil Nadu while the Tantradharak (the preceptor of the worship) was Swami Ishtakripananda
of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow. To complete the function smoothly, 75 volunteers were harnessed. After the evening vesper services at the Main Temple of Sri Ramakrishna, fireworks were exhibited following which the Kali puja commenced at 9:30 p.m. Subsequently, Kali Kirtan (devotional songs on the divine mother) were performed in chorus led by Swami Divyarchanananda and Swami Muktinathananda accompanied by tabla played by Shubam Raj of Bhatkhande Sangeet Sansthan.