Anna Abhishekam, Gangaikondacholapuram Temple

Annabhishekam ritual and festival is an important ritual held in Lord Shiva Temples in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu. Annabhishekam is a ritual, dedicated to Lord Shiva that is performed for food security through the prosperity of the farmland and an increase in agricultural produce. It is usually performed after a harvest season and involves offering cooked rice to Lord Shiva. The rice is cooked in the temple premises and then it is carried around the temple. Priests chant mantras and musical instruments like Nadaswaram, drum etc are played. The cooked rice is then used to cover the Shiva Linga and it is referred to as Anna Linga. Various types of rice preparations like Pongal, curd rice, Sweet Pongal, tamarind rice, sesame rice, payasam and other sweets from freshly harvested rice are prepared and offered to Lord Shiva on the day. The food is then shared by people and is also given to domesticated animals and birds. The ritual is usually performed on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Aippasi (October - November).