Bhog: Soul Food of India
Author(s): Geeta Budhraja
Abstract: This paper explores Bhog, a sacred food offering in Hinduism, not merely as ritual but as a living culinary tradition deeply interwoven with India's cultural, spiritual, and nutritional fabric. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted during the writing of Bhog: Temple Food of India, the paper highlights the significance of Bhog in temple life, daily worship, and its broader socio-religious implications. It argues that Bhog exemplifies holistic wellness through its Ayurvedic foundations, seasonal adaptability, regional diversity, and emotional depth captured in concepts like bhava (intention) and manorath (desire of the heart). In the post-pandemic context, Bhog stands out as a powerful model of sustainable, immunity-boosting, and spiritually enriched food practice. This study suggests that Bhog’s principles purity, seasonality, emotional awareness, and locality can be reintroduced to the contemporary table without compromising taste or aesthetic appeal, reaffirming food as a site of healing, harmony, and devotion.
DOI: 10.22271/27069109.2025.v7.i5b.410Pages: 98-101 | Views: 104 | Downloads: 54Download Full Article: Click Here
