Unlock the Spiritual Journey with Mata Annapurna's 17-Year Vow
Embark on a spiritual odyssey as Mata Annapurna's sacred vow commences on the auspicious fifth day of the Krishna Paksha in the Margashirsha month, lasting for 17 years, 17 months, and 17 days. Commencing on December 2, devotees receive a symbolic thread of 17 knots from the temple's head priest, Shankar Puri Maharaj, on the inaugural day.
Devotees, adorned with a thread featuring 17 knots, abstain from consuming food during this sacred Annapurna Vow. Women wear it on the left, men on the right hand. Only a single, salt-free fruitarian meal is allowed throughout this 17-day ritual. Culminating on December 17, the conclusion witnesses Mata Annapurna's adornment with paddy grains, transforming the temple into a divine spectacle.
Witness the sanctified precincts, including the Annapurna temple and her abode, embellished for the occasion. On December 18, the devotees partake in the distribution of prasad, rice grains, among the faithful until the temple closes. The temple authorities emphasize the unique duration of this vow, spanning 17 years, 17 months, and 17 days.
In adherence to tradition, the first day of the vow sees the head priest personally handing over threads with 17 knots to the devotees. Additionally, it is a belief among many farmers in Purvanchal that dedicating the first sheaf of their harvest to Mata Annapurna and incorporating it as prasad in the next crop yields prosperity. Mahant Shankar Puri underscores the divine and material blessings this vow bestows, ensuring abundance in food, wealth, and well-being.
