This Lucknow Kali Bari's Annakoot Bhog Has A Special Meaning

Every year during Kali Puja, thousands of devotees gather at the 159-year-old Kali Bari Temple in Lucknow's Ghasiyari Mandi for the Annakoot Puja, which takes place on Wednesday evening. As part of the Goverdhan Puja, the temple offered a grand ‘chhappan bhog’ (56 varieties of food) to Goddess Kali.

This ritual, usually observed a day after Diwali, is a special event at various Kali Bari temples across the city. Offerings of a wide array of dishes, including sweets, fruits, dry fruits, namkeens, and paneer pakodas marked the celebrations at the Ghasiyari Mandi temple.

The Annakoot ritual holds deep significance, especially for locals; it is widely believed that those who seek the blessings of Maa Annakoot will never go to bed hungry. Every year, over 4,500 devotees gather at the temple for darshan.

The tradition of offering 56 varieties of food, or ‘chhappan bhog,’ is linked to the legend of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Parvat on his finger for an entire week. Since Krishna was served food 8 times a day for 7 days, a total of 56 different delicacies were prepared and offered.

The Annakut festival has its roots in Hindu mythology, particularly in the Bhagavata Purana. The story centres on Lord Krishna's triumph over Indra, the king of the gods, and the subsequent worship of Mount Govardhan. According to the legend, the villagers of Gokul traditionally performed rituals to honour Lord Indra, hoping for a prosperous harvest.

However, Lord Krishna advised them to instead worship Govardhan Hill, which provided them with fertile land and essential resources.

Following Krishna's guidance, the villagers organized a grand feast, creating a "mountain" of food offerings for the hill, thus defying Indra’s authority.

Enraged by this act, Indra sent a fierce storm, but Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on his little finger, protecting the villagers from the downpour. Ultimately, Indra acknowledged Krishna's divine power and conceded. The Annakut festival celebrates this event, emphasizing the importance of valuing nature’s gifts and showing gratitude for abundance.