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Ahmedabad, Oct 22 (IANS) At the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad’s Shahibaug, priests, saints and devotees offered a grand Annakoot consisting of over 1,200 dishes to Lord Krishna on the occasion of Govardhan Puja on Wednesday.
According to Sanatan Hindu tradition, Annakoot, a ceremonial offering of a variety of dishes – is presented to Lord Krishna (Thakurji) to mark the beginning of the new year after Diwali. Annakoot, full of taste, aroma and devotion, is a sacred occasion to express gratitude to them.
With the blessings of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, lakhs of devotees and volunteers are participating in the Annakoot celebrations at BAPS Swaminarayan temples across India and the world.
The sight of beautifully decorated dishes brought immense joy and spiritual peace to thousands of visitors.
Preparations for this grand Prasad were going on for the last 45 days. The decorative presentation of Annakoot in front of the temple idols was done under the guidance of skilled cooks and interior designers, who classified and arranged the items by type, number and colour.
Apart from the revered saints, hundreds of young male and female volunteers from Ahmedabad – including over 1,500 women – contributed to various temple services related to Diwali and Annakoot last month.
Annakoot Prasad will be distributed to devotees and visitors, and also shared with other temples and needy people in the city.
Along with the presentation, an exhibition titled ‘In the Footsteps of Pramukh Swami’ was also organized which highlighted the global efforts made to promote Sanatan culture under the leadership of Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The grand Annakoot will be available for public darshan on Wednesday from 10:30 am to 7 pm.
Govardhan Puja, celebrated on the first lunar day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month, marks the worship of Govardhan Hill and commemorates the protection of the people of Vrindavan by Lord Krishna. As part of the festivities, devotees prepare and offer an elaborate feast to Lord Krishna – this tradition is rich in faith, devotion and cultural significance.
–IANS
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