Annapoorna Puja at Kali Mandir in C.R.Park, New Delhi

The Kali Mandir in C.R.Park, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">New Delhi</st1lace></st1:City> is celebrating the Annapoorna Puja on April 3,2009. As in previous years the idol will have Devi Annapoorna seated and Lord Shiva standing before her with a begging bowl.
The Annapurna Puja has an interesting legend behind it. It is said that once Lord Shiva told his Devi Parvati that the whole world is an illusion (Maya). The food that we eat is too a part of Maya. This miffed Devi Parvati who disappeared from the world.
As soon as she disappeared, all activities stopped and the Earth became barren and bereft of food. There was no food to be had and men, women and children all began to be wracked by the pangs of hunger. Her disappearance brought time to a standstill and the earth became barren. There was no food to be found anywhere and all the beings suffered from the pangs of hunger. Their cries reached Devi Parvati who re-appeared on Earth and set up a kitchen in <st1:City w:st="on">Varanasi</st1:City> or <st1lace w:st="on">Benares</st1lace>. Lord Shiva, too ran to her and presented a bowl seeking alms and admitted his mistake in calling the material world an illusion. Devi Parvati then smiled and fed Lord Shiva.
To this day, Devi Annaporna is worshipped with Lord Shiva standing before her with a begging bowl. There is a temple dedicated to Devi Annaporna near the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in <st1lace w:st="on">Benares</st1lace>.