Eating together unites people and has a significant impact on their physical, social, and emotional development. This book looks at practices and traditions of sharing food prevalent among major religious communities in India including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Islam.

K. V. Raju is Professor Emeritus and Dean, Research at Chanakya University, Bengaluru, India. He has experience in conceptualizing and developing strategy documents, followed by action plans for large-scale strategic interventions for agricultural development and livelihood improvement. He has experience working as the Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, and as Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh, as well as working on the conceptualization, design, and execution of innovative approaches to development in various sectors ranging from land and water management, biofuels, infrastructure, creating suitable policy, and enabling environment. He has published 24 books and 102 journal publications and recent publications include Urban Environmental Governance in India - Browsing Bengaluru, The Urban Book Series, Springer Publishers, Switzerland with A. Ravindra, S. Manasi, K.C. Smitha, Srinivas Ravindra (2018); Water and Scriptures - Ancient Roots for Sustainable Development, Springer Publishers, United States, 2017, with K. V. Raju; and State, Governance and Financing India's Development with K. Gayithri, Foundation Books, an imprint of Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, India, 2016.

S. Manasi is Associate Professor at the Centre for Research in Urban Affairs, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India. She has more than 20 years of research experience with interdisciplinary research. Her areas of research include urban environment and related issues, more specifically on water resources, waste management, urban governance, climate change, Indian knowledge systems, commensality studies, culture, and environment. She has published 7 books and 59 journal articles and chapters in edited volumes and her recent publications include Coping Mechanisms for Climate Change in Periurban Areas, Springer, New Zealand 2020 with K.V. Raju and Water and Scriptures - Ancient Roots for Sustainable Development, Springer Publishers, United States, 2017, with K. V. Raju.

List of figures vii

List of maps viii

List of tables ix

Foreword by Ruth Suseela Meinzen-Dick xi

Foreword by Yogi Adityanath xiii

Acknowledgements xiv

PART I

History and practices 1

1 Anna-daan, food charity: an overview 3

K. V. RAJU AND S. MANASI

2 Anna-daan, food charity in Hinduism: an exploration 22

K. V. RAJU, S. MANASI, M. S. SHRUTI, AND N. LATHA

3 Anna-daan: Jain Agamas theory and practice 64

PRATIBHA PARSHWANATH AND N. LATHA

4 Anna-daan in Buddhism: deciphering the nexus 99

SAROJ KANTA KAR AND ABHIMANYU CHETTRI

5 Anna-daan practices in Sikhism: manifestations of the institution of langar (community kitchen) 119

MANVINDER SINGH AND NATASHA KALRA

6 Anna-daan in Christianity: origin, meaning, and varieties 140

JAMES PONNIAH

7 Anna-daan in Islam: objectives, nuances, and variants 170

M. A. SIRAJ, MOHAMMAD KHALIMULLAH, AND HARSHITA BHAT

8 Conclusion 203

PART II

Case studies 217

Case studies 219

Annexes 635

Annex 1 637

Annex 2 661

Annex 3 671