Annapurna Jayanti: the day Kashi's goddess of food first fed the world

Annapurna Jayanti falls on the full moon (Purnima) of Margashirsha (Agrahayana), the month Krishna calls his own in the Gita. In 2026 it is Wednesday, 23 December, the last full moon of the year.

The story is one of Kashi's own. Shiva once declared that the material world, and even anna, food, was mere Maya, illusion. To answer him, Parvati withdrew all food from the world, and a terrible famine fell; humans, and even the gods, suffered. Shiva himself came before her as a beggar with his bowl, and she, appearing in Kashi as Annapurna, the goddess of food, filled it. In that moment Shiva acknowledged that food is no illusion but the very ground of life, and Annapurna promised that in Kashi no one would ever go hungry. The day she appeared is kept as Annapurna Jayanti, on Margashirsha Purnima.

From the ground: for my Telugu and Kannada guests I explain that this is Annapoorna Devi's own birthday, and the message is simple and profound, that anna is Brahman, food is divine, and to give it is the highest charity. The temple's free kitchen exists to prove that promise every day.

Annapurna is Parvati in her form as the goddess of food, nourishment and prosperity, also called Annada and Shakumbhari, closely bound to Kashi Vishwanath. Worshipping her on her Jayanti is held to keep a household's granary and purse full and to banish scarcity. Above all the day is about anna-daan, the giving of food: it is believed that food donated on Annapurna Jayanti returns manifold, and to feed the hungry on this day is the day's truest worship. It falls on Margashirsha Purnima, a full moon of great merit, shared with Dattatreya Jayanti.

The heart of the day is the Annapurna temple in Vishwanath Gali, a few hundred metres from Kashi Vishwanath. Devotees gather for special darshan and aarti of the goddess, an abhishekam of grains and cooked rice (annabhishekam) is offered, and the temple, whose kitchen feeds pilgrims year-round, holds a great annadanam, feeding thousands. The queue is long and the mood joyful and generous; this is the temple of the goddess on her own day, in the city that is her home.

The giving of food defines Annapurna Jayanti. At the temple, the Annakshetra, the free kitchen, serves a massive community feast; devotees also sponsor meals and donate grain, cooked food and clothing to the needy. To take part in the feeding, or to give with the temple, is to enter the very meaning of the day. Sponsoring a meal in the goddess's name is a common and honoured offering, and one we can help arrange respectfully.

A lovely, homely side of the festival: on Annapurna Jayanti, families worship the kitchen itself, the hearth, the stove, the vessels and the grain store, thanking the source of the household's food and praying it never runs dry. Women mainly keep the vrat, with an early bath, puja of Annapurna with Shiva, the reading of her story or the Annapurna Chalisa, and anna-daan. It is a warm, domestic, grateful festival, food honoured as the divine gift it is.

One honest clarification, because it matters. The Annapurna temple's famous golden idol, shown only about three days a year, appears around Annakut, from Dhanteras to Govardhan Puja in the Diwali season, not on Annapurna Jayanti. On the Jayanti you have darshan of the regular (brass) idol with special festive puja, aarti, annabhishekam and the great annadanam, a rich and joyful day, but the gold idol is not revealed now. If seeing the golden Annapurna is your aim, plan for the Annakut window instead; we will tell you plainly which day gives what.

• The Annapurna temple, Vishwanath Gali: for the darshan, aarti and annabhishekam.
• The annadanam: to take part in or contribute to the feeding of thousands.
• Kashi Vishwanath alongside: the paired darshan, Annapurna and Vishwanath together.
• The ghats at the December full moon: for the Margashirsha Purnima evening on the river.

Annapurna Jayanti darshan and the annadanam are free; the whole point of the day is giving, not charging. Two honest points. As at any busy shrine in the Vishwanath Gali, priests may press for large dakshina or paid enclosure entry collected without receipts; we brief you on a fair, dignified offering. And, as above, this is not the golden-darshan day, so do not let anyone sell you a "golden Annapurna VIP darshan" now, it does not happen on the Jayanti. What we honestly arrange is the timing, a calmer darshan slot, the sequence with Kashi Vishwanath, a respectful way to sponsor a meal if you wish, and a guide who tells the Annapurna story and keeps the gali touts at bay.

Fly into Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), about 25 km out; trains serve Varanasi Junction, Banaras and Kashi stations. The Annapurna temple is in Vishwanath Gali, a few hundred metres from Kashi Vishwanath; the lanes are walked from Godaulia. December mornings are cold and foggy, so allow buffer on arrivals. Full detail in the How to Reach Varanasi guide.

Our package guests stay at the Taj Ganges or Hilton Varanasi with breakfast, a warm base for a cold-morning darshan. December is a busy season in Kashi, so book ahead. More in the Stay & Hotels guide.

A December Kashi itinerary around Annapurna Jayanti, with the temple darshan, the annadanam and the classic sights, builds on one flat rate: ₹12,500 per day for two guests, Taj or Hilton base, Innova throughout, confirmed in writing before any advance. It sits close in the calendar to Vivah Panchami in Ayodhya, so a single December trip can hold both, and it slots into the 4 Days Ayodhya Varanasi Tour Package, ₹50,000 per couple (₹25,000 per person). Browse all packages.