In a grand tribute to Lord Hanuman on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, Jabalpur’s Pachmatha Temple has unveiled a spectacular Maha Thali featuring 56 traditional dishes from across India, along with a colossal 5,000 kg laddu.
Celebrating its silver jubilee, the Hanuman Mandir Seva Samiti and Mahila Mandal are hosting a vibrant three-day festival. The highlight of the event, the Maha Thali, was crafted to embody the spirit of “unity in diversity”, showcasing beloved dishes from every region of India on one sacred platter.
“This plate brings together dishes from every corner of the country,” said Shraddha, a devotee involved in the preparations. “From Kashmir, we’ve included dry fruits, from Gujarat, there are fafda, jalebi, and dhokla. Uttar Pradesh has sent layiya, Banaras has its famous paan, lassi, and bel sharbat, and Bihar’s litti chokha is also part of the thali. Every item has been prepared with love.”
Speaking to ANI, Jagadguru Raghav Devacharya reflected on the spiritual importance of the festival:
“It’s Hanuman ji’s strength that reminds us who we are. Just like he found his purpose by walking with Lord Ram, we too can understand and express our Hindu identity by staying connected to his (Hanuman Ji) spirit.”
Hanuman Jayanti, also known as Chaitra Poornima, commemorates the birth of Lord Hanuman, the revered devotee of Lord Ram. On this sacred day, devotees around the world observe fasts, offer prayers, and chant Hanuman mantras to seek blessings and deepen their spiritual connection with Sankatmochan Hanuman.
The celebration in Jabalpur stands as a shining example of devotion, cultural unity, and the rich culinary heritage of India.