i. What is prasad?

Offering food to God is an expression of devotion and gratitude. For some, it represents giving up something valuable, which helps cultivate detachment from material possessions. For others, it is a way of sharing—since the food offered is later distributed to temple priests, devotees, and often to the poor and hungry.

Hinduism provides many pathways for devotion (bhakti), and offering food is one such practice. Once offered, the food is believed to be sanctified and imbued with divine blessings. This blessed food is then shared as prasāda—a sacred gift from the Divine.

Other reading material:

Relevant videos: The Kerala Story, 

Contributor: Dilip Amin

Location of this post (18i): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-prasad/