A Mountain of Food for the New Year
Imagine a display filled with colorful vegetables, fragrant rice, breads, and sweets. The dishes are arranged with care, but they are not being set out for an ordinary meal. In the BAPS Swaminarayan community, a display like this can be part of Annakut, a religious offering connected with the New Year after Diwali.
The word Annakut means “mountain of food.” The name describes the impressive arrangement of many foods offered to God. A display may include different kinds of dishes placed in rows or groups. Together, they create a scene of abundance, or plenty.
Food as an offering
In the BAPS Swaminarayan tradition, Annakut is more than a beautiful collection of dishes. Preparing and offering food is a way for devotees, or people who practice the faith, to express gratitude to God. The variety of foods can remind them of the many things they receive and value.
Food also makes gratitude visible. Each dish must be prepared and arranged before it can become part of the offering. Community members may contribute their time and effort, working together to create a display larger than one person could easily make alone.
- fragrant:
- Having a pleasant smell.
- arranged:
- Placed in an organized way.
- variety:
- A number of different kinds of things.
- gratitude:
- A feeling of thankfulness.
- contribute:
- To give or do something to help.
- devotion:
- Strong commitment to a belief or purpose.
- associated:
- Connected with something.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the passage, and which two details support it?
- 2Why is Annakut called a “mountain of food”?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“A Mountain of Food for the New Year” is a explanatory article reading passage about Annakut and Bestu Varas, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (467 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.