Devi
Shri Annapurna Devi Temple
- Annapurna (Parvati as the goddess of nourishment)
- Vishwanath Gali · Varanasi
The goddess of nourishment, whose shrine adjoins Kashi Vishwanath — in Kashi, Shiva himself is said to receive alms from her hand.
Introduction
About the Temple
The sacred Annapurna Temple in Kashi is dedicated to Goddess Annapurna, the divine embodiment of nourishment, abundance, and the compassionate act of feeding all living beings. Revered as a manifestation of Goddess Parvati, Maa Annapurna represents the understanding that food is a divine blessing and that sharing nourishment is an expression of dharma. Her presence holds special significance in Kashi, where devotion to Lord Vishwanath is closely associated with the grace of the Divine Mother. According to traditional beliefs, Goddess Annapurna ensures that her devotees are blessed with sustenance and reminds humanity of the importance of generosity and gratitude. The temple is particularly renowned for its Annakut celebrations following Diwali, when an abundance of food offerings is presented to the Goddess. Devotees visit this sacred shrine to seek blessings for nourishment, prosperity, and well-being. Maa Annapurna’s temple stands as a timeless reminder that spiritual abundance finds its fullest expression in compassion, service, and sharing food with others.
Chronicle
History & Origins
The documented record
The present temple is commonly dated to 1729 and attributed to the Peshwa Baji Rao I. As with much of the temple quarter, the site's worship is older than the standing structure.
In depth
The Story of Annapurna in Kashi
As the story is told, Shiva once declared that the material world — food included — was only maya, illusion. Parvati, the mother of the world, withdrew, and with her went all nourishment; the worlds went hungry.
Shiva, recognising what had been lost, came to her as a mendicant to beg. In Kashi she appeared as Annapurna, a golden vessel in one hand and a ladle in the other, and fed him with her own hand. It is that moment — the lord of the universe receiving food from the goddess — that the image in this temple recalls, and that makes the giving of food the central act of devotion here.
This is sacred narrative, told and retold in Kashi's devotional tradition, and is recorded here as such.
Significance
Spiritual Significance
Annapurna's shrine is one of the most visited in Kashi after Vishwanath itself, and the pairing of the two — the lord of the universe and the goddess who feeds him — is central to how the city understands itself.
In devotional tradition
Devotees traditionally pray to Annapurna for sufficiency and well-being in the household — that the family should never want for food. Offerings of grain and participation in annadan are the customary expression of that prayer.
This records traditional devotional belief and the practice of devotees. It is presented as religious tradition, not as a statement of fact or a promise of any outcome.
In depth
The Annakshetra: Feeding Kashi Every Day
At a temple dedicated to the goddess who fed Shiva himself, the giving of food is not a symbol but a daily practice. The temple's annakshetra — its free community kitchen — serves meals to pilgrims and to people in need every day, through two kitchens; in recent years they have fed in the region of twenty thousand people a day between them. The kitchen kept running through the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, when feeding the city mattered most.
For devotees, contributing to the annakshetra — with grain or with an offering towards the meals — is a natural way to honour Annapurna. Visitors who take prasad there are taking part in the same act the temple's image depicts: the goddess, ladle in hand, feeding all who come.
For how to contribute to the annakshetra, ask at the temple office; the Samiti's team can also help visitors plan a visit that includes it.
Worship
Deity, Worship & Rituals
- Presiding deity
- Annapurna (Parvati as the goddess of nourishment)
- Also worshipped
- Kuber and Surya, who have shrines within the temple
Worship & ritual
The temple maintains a tradition of annadan, the giving of food, which devotees support and participate in. The golden image of the goddess is opened for darshan on particular days of the year rather than daily.
In depth
The Temple and Its Two Images
The temple stands just off Vishwanath Gali. Its tower and dome are carved in the Hindu manner, and in the courtyard a small sanctum is fronted by a large pillared porch in the Nagara style.
Two images of the goddess are kept here: one of brass, before which daily darshan is offered, and one of gold, which is brought out for darshan only around Annakut after Diwali. On that occasion heaps of grain, sweets and fruit are arranged before Annapurna and then distributed to devotees as prasad — which is why the queues for those few days are among the longest in the city.
Sacred calendar
Festivals
Annakut, following Diwali, is the temple's great observance. The darshan of the golden Annapurna is traditionally held around Dhanteras and Annakut, and draws extremely large queues.
Darshan
Darshan Timings
Darshan hours
Opens
5:00 AM
Closes
10:00 PM
Set by the temple, and changed on festivals, eclipses and special occasions. Please confirm locally before travelling.
Closed in the afternoon, approximately 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. The darshan of the golden image follows its own short annual schedule around Dhanteras and Annakut.
Generally open from early morning until night, with an afternoon closure. Timings vary on festivals, eclipses and special occasions — confirm locally before travelling.
Visitor guide
Darshan & Visitor Information
The temple is inside the dense lane network beside Vishwanath and is subject to the same crowding. The golden-image darshan days are exceptionally busy; plan for long waits or choose another day.
Getting there
Location & How to Reach
Finding the temple
- Locality
- Vishwanath Gali
- Address
- Near Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vishwanath Gali, Varanasi
- City
- Varanasi
How to reach
The temple stands in the old city immediately beside the Kashi Vishwanath complex. The lanes here are too narrow for vehicles, so the final approach is on foot through Vishwanath Gali — most visitors combine it with darshan at Vishwanath.
Varanasi Junction (BSB) is the nearest major railway station, and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) the nearest airport.
Visitors ask
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical answers for anyone planning darshan at Shri Annapurna Devi Temple.
Ask the Samiti a questionTemple puja
Puja at This Temple
Shri Annapurna Temple
Home to Goddess Annapurna, the divine provider of nourishment, visited by devotees seeking abundance and well-being for their families.
No packages are listed online for this puja yet. The Samiti's team can tell you what can be arranged and when.
Temples of Kashi Shri Annapurna Devi Temple
Plan Your Visit
Planning a darshan at Shri Annapurna Devi Temple, or hoping to arrange a puja in Kashi? The Samiti's team will gladly guide you on the visit and on the arrangements available.
Continue the yatra
