THANKSGIVING

In the US, Thanksgiving originated as a harvest festival. It has been celebrated since 1789. Under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, it became a federal holiday in 1863, during the American Civil War. Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens," to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

In INDIA, understanding is different. The food is one of the necessities of life. Without food no one can exist in this world. To sustain life, food is necessary. Only God can give the food and no one else. For providing food for us, we have to thank God by offering the food to Him before eating. It is not done once a year. It is done daily whenever we eat food. The following is the procedure to be followed every time.

Initially, a small quantity of rice is served on the plate on which we are going to eat.  Over the rice, a spoonful of ghee is served. We take a small quantity of rice with the ghee, using our first 3 fingers, and by simultaneously saying each of the following mantras, we swallow the food without chewing it. This is also called Neivedyam. After completion, other items of the food are served for eating.

Om Pranaya svaha 

Om apanaya svaha 

Om vyanaya svaha

Om Udanaya svaha 

Om samanaya svaha 

Om brahmane svaha 

Prana  — the principal breath

Apana  — responsible for the excretory activity

Samana — responsible for digestive activity

Vyana — responsible for the circulatory activity

Udana — respiratory activity

Brahmane --- the Lord

Svaha --- means prostrate

NOTE. Brahmins after their Upanayanam [ Sacred thread ceremony] follow this procedure before eating food. Their ladies perform this Neivedyam after preparing the food. Others can also follow if they are interested. After all, we are the only thanksgiving to the Lord for the food provided to us. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.