Divine Feasts: Food Offerings as Expression of Devotion and Cultural Heritage in the Folk Traditions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar 41 9

Abstract

The paper explores the intersectionality of food, cultural identity and religion in post-colonial Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, centering on how sacred offerings in folk deity traditions serve both cultural and devotional aspects of everyday lives. Drawing from ethnographic study, oral traditions, and print-media sources, the study looks into how food functions as a potent instrument for religious belonging. In parts of rural and suburban communities, the act of offering food to deities shows a religious gesture that affirms the shared histories of
locality, identity, and agrarian ties. This framework investigates the worship of local deities, more precisely Gorakhnath Baba, Tarkulha Devi, Chhathi Maai, Deeh Baba, Kaali Mai, Niksha Baba, Teej and Jitiya. The traditional observances followed by the Khichdi Mela at Gorakhnath Temple, the annual fairs of Tarkulha Devi and Kaali Mai, and the village-specific ritual practices of eeh aba illustrate how sacred offerings are deeply embedded in seasonal cycles, agricultural produce, and collective memory. In order to explore how sacred offerings maintain devotional practices, support cultural identity and serve as a medium of intangible cultural heritage in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The interviews with devotees, priests and local historians based on participant observation create the complex perception of the ritual meaning and the evolving patterns of change in time. The study shows that divine offerings are a means of showcasing as a cultural memory, which encompasses levels of ecological knowledge, farming schedules, and socio-religious levels of the order.