Paka Lakshmi is revered as the Goddess of the Temple Kitchen in the Tirupati Balaji Temple located in Tirumala. She holds an esteemed position in the temple's rituals and daily activities, and is also known by the names Potu Thayar or Vakula Malika Ammavaru.
The temple kitchen, known as the "Potu," is a sacred space where food for Lord Balaji, other deities, and the numerous devotees is meticulously prepared under her divine blessing. The prasadam (sacred food offering) prepared here is considered exceptionally pure and is distributed to devotees, symbolizing the grace and blessings of the deities.
One of the significant rituals dedicated to Paka Lakshmi is the special "Tirumanjanam," a ceremonial cleansing and anointing, which is performed during the Kakapudi festival. This festival is observed on Kanuma, the day following the Sankranti festival, which is a major harvest festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India. During this time, devotees pay homage to Paka Lakshmi, acknowledging her crucial role in ensuring the sanctity and purity of the food offerings in the temple.
The rituals and festivals associated with Paka Lakshmi underscore the importance of food in religious practices and highlight the devotion and respect accorded to the divine aspects of sustenance and nourishment in Hinduism.