New Delhi: Annaprashana ceremony is a holy celebration done according to Hindu rituals that marks the first taste of food by a newborn other than the mother’s milk. Annaprashana consists of two words of Sanskrit, ‘ann’ meaning ‘cooked rice’ and ‘prashana’ meaning ‘to feed’. In simple words, it may be referred to as a ‘grain initiation’ or ‘rice-feeding’ ceremony. Amongst the important ‘Sanskars’, Annaprashana sanskar is one which is arranged after consulting the right time and date by the priests. This Sanskar is usually performed as and when the child turns 8 months old.
On 14th April 2023, Sri Pundrik Goswami Maharaj ji celebrated the Annaprashana Sansakar of his son Sri Bhavbhuti Goswami ji at Shri Shadbhuj Mahaprabhu Mandir, Amritsar, Punjab. The event started with Guru Vandana, followed by a graceful dance on Krishna Bhajan by a dancer. Thereafter Maharaj Shri Pundrik Goswami, along with his wife, Shri Renuka Goswami, and two daughters and family, sat for the holy ceremony. The stage, decorated with flowers and 56 varieties of food, was served for Lord Krishna as the Havan began. As the chanting of mantras began, the ‘kheer’ was served to Shri Bhavbhuti Goswami, and he was also introduced to Shri Bhagwat Katha. Talking to Shri Pundrik Goswami, he expressed his gratitude towards Lord Krishna for everything he has blessed him with and also enlightened us about the significance of the Annaprashana Sanskar.
He explains that as the body gets ready to introduce itself to grains and other items apart from the mother’s milk, it is essential, to begin with by remembering God and thanking him for all the senses he has blessed us with. The holy chanting of powerful mantras makes the child stronger inside as his ears get to hear, the nose gets to smell the havan, and the eyes get to see it. Honey and Kheer are introduced to the child so that everything in his life stays as sweet, and as a child of six-eight months old doesn’t have teeth to chew, he can have the soft things.
Shri Pundrik Goswami has a huge following among the youth, who love him as their spiritual master. He is a famous Bhagwat orator who has done seminars not only in India but all over the world. He serves in the Radha Raman Temple of Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.