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Bhandara (community kitchen) service in Hindu Dharma, is the special free-of-cost meal, served to the devotees present in the Temple. Food is wholeheartedly cooked and served to needy devotees.
Practicing Bhandara (community kitchen) is mostly done by rich people, as a welfare service to God. It also can be organized by any individual (referred to as the Yajamana) who wishes to thank the Lord. This practice began with the Hindu religion, 500 years later in 1500 - 1600 AD Sikhism too adopted this wholesome practice. In Hinduism, after performing holy rituals and community worshipping the almighty, the Yajamana serves food to the poor and the needy.
The prasada is to be consumed by attendees as a holy offering. The offerings may include cooked food, fruits and confectionery sweets. Vegetarian food is usually offered and later distributed to the devotees who are present in the temple. Sometimes this vegetarian offering will exclude prohibited items such as garlic, onion, mushroom, etc.
Offering of food items forms
part of the upachara or services to a Hindu deity in many Hindu
traditions.
