Many of you might have noticed that utensils containing food in some religious ceremonies and functions, like marriages and banquets in temples and ashrams are always kept covered with a piece of cloth, in the kitchen or the storeroom. This is a part of the age old traditions, on the serving of food in such ceremonies and functions, which is still prevalent in most parts of India.
This particular age-old tradition is widely accepted by society without a second thought. The main principle behind this tradition is the belief that if the utensils containing food are kept covered with a piece of cloth, then there will never be any shortage of food during the ceremony and every invitee or person attending the ceremony will get sufficient quantity of food to eat.
This piece of cloth covering is never completely removed from the utensil until the close of the ceremony.
Another possible reason for this tradition of covering food is to prevent the Evil-Eye or Buri Nazar of malicious or jealous individuals from spoiling the food.
This worship of Annapurna Devi, the Hindu deity representing food, food-grains and nourishment is widely practiced by devote Hindus to ensure that they never face any kind of food shortage in their lives.
There are numerous Mantras, Stotras and Prayers, which are dedicated to Annapurna Devi. A simple Gayatri Mantra of of Annapurna Devi, which is chanted to seek the divine blessing of the Food-Goddess is the Annapurna Gayatri Mantra.
This Gayarti Mantra is chanted by cooks, chefs and housewives before preparing food in their kitchens to ensure that nothing goes wrong and the food become tasty.
