Govardhan Puja

Govardhan Puja is an auspicious festival in the Hindu culture that occurs a day after Diwali to commemorate the Baal Roop (child form) of Lord Shri Krishna. Govardhan Puja is also known as Annakut or Annakoot (meaning a "mountain of food"), in which devotees' worship Govardhan Parvat (a hill) and offer 56 varieties (Chappan Bhog) of vegetarian food and sweets as a mark of gratitude.

The word Govardhan is derived from the Govardhan mountain located in Gokul (Uttar Pradesh), which was single-handedly lifted by Lord Krishna. Govardhan puja started from Brijbhoomi as a thanksgiving ceremony to the most lovable God Krishna and gradually became prevalent throughout India. According to the Hindu calendar, people of India celebrate this holy festival on the first day of Shukla Paksha in the Kartik month.

Govardhan Puja is an important Hindu festival that is dedicated to Lord Krishna. In the Hindu calendar month, it falls in the month of Kartik on the first lunar day of the ''Shukla Paksha'' while it is the first day in the Vikram Samvat calendar. This is also the day following the festival of Diwali, or Deepawali, the festival of lights. Govardhan Puja is also called the Annakut festival.

Govardhan Puja Celebrations and Interesting Facts

Govardhan Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm by people in the Northern part of India. There are traditional ways to celebrate this occasion.

To represent the Govardhan parvat, a heap of grains is worshiped by decorating it with flowers and garlands. This is called 'Annakut', meaning heap of grains. After the worship, the grain is 'looted' as part of the festival tradition.
'Go' or 'gau' means cow and 'vardhan' means growth and nourishment. A cow is believed to be the most sacred animal in the Hindu tradition. People in some parts of India, especially in Haryana, make small hillocks of cow-dung to represent the Govardhan Mountain which is then decorated and worshiped by moving in circles around it.
In the rural parts of India, along with the worship of the effigy of the Govardhan Parvat, farmers, as well as the cattle-owners, offer gratitude towards their fields, cattle and the tools of their trade by worshiping them. They decorate their cattle with colors, flowers, garlands, beads, bells and other decorations. It is believed that this worship brings better crops and thus prosperity and happiness in their lives.
The effigy made of cow dung is crushed to the soil by the hooves of their cattle in the evening when the festival is over.
Another community ritual that is followed is preparing of 'Annakut' at temples and homes – a meal with Baajre ki khichdi, Kadhi, and Mixed vegetables. People offer ingredients like wheat flour, rice, baajra, sugar, vegetables, besan, etc. at the temples. Ladies of the neighborhood join in preparing the 'Annakut', which is then distributed at Prasad after the Puja. People gather at temples or join their extended families at a relative's home to worship Govardhan parvat (made out of cow dung). Men, women and children take rounds of the constructed Govardhan parvat, and sing, "Govardhan Mahu tuhi bada, tujhse bada na koi…'. "You are the greatest of all, nobody is greater than you!"
There is a lesser-known yet deeper spiritual meaning behind the word Govardhan. According to it, 'go' means our five senses and 'vardhan' means the diversion of these senses from the worldly desires towards Lord Krishna.

Mythology of Govardhan Puja

Govardhan Puja celebrates the mythological story of Lord Krishna lifting up the hill of Govardhan to provide shelter to villagers from the torrential rains that were lashing the area. The festival is celebrated as an act of gratitude to Lord Krishna to this day. It is a symbol of taking refuge in the Lord in a time of crisis and how Lord Krishna never fails to help his devotees in times of need. The story is also a warning to respect the forces of nature and to always remember that, as human beings, we are dependent on Mother nature and should be grateful for all the blessings bestowed on us.

Govardhan Puja Rituals

The rituals associated with Govardhan puja are varied according to the different sects in Hinduism. In some states, Lord Agni, Indra, and Varuna, the gods of Fire, Thunder, and the Oceans, are also worshipped on this special day. There are special rituals associated with this day some of which are as given below:

A pile of cow dung, shaped like the mountain Govardhan, is made on this day and is decorated with flowers. The pooja is done offering water, incense sticks, fruits, and other oblations. This is done either in the early morning or late in the evening.
The animals such as bulls and cows that help people in agriculture are honored on this day.
The mountain, known as Govardhan Giri, is worshipped as a god in its own right on this day. A model is made from cow dung and is placed on the ground. A clay lamp is placed on it on which several oblations are made such as crystallised sugar, honey, curd, milk, and the waters of the river Ganga.
Lord Vishawakarma, the god of skilled craftspeople, is also worshipped on this day. Offerings and poojas are done for machines in industries and machineries in factories.
Feasts called ''bhandaras'' are organised in temples all over the country and distributed as prasad to the followers.
An important aspect of the Govardhan pooja is making revolutions around the mountain made of cow dung that represents the hill of Govardhan. It is done by simultaneously hailing the god Govardhan. After the necessary revolutions are completed, barley is sown on the ground.
Annakoot is also prepared on this day, which is a combination of various cereals, as an offering to Lord Krishna.

GOVARDHAN PUJA 2022: DATE AND TIME

Govardhan Puja: Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat: 06:29 am to 08:44 am
Duration: 02 Hours 15 Mins
Pratipada Tithi Begins: 04:18 pm on Oct 25, 2022
Pratipada Tithi Ends: 02:42 pm on Oct 26, 2022

GOVARDHAN PUJA 2022: HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

According to Hindu mythology, Govardhan puja is observed in the victory of Lord Krishna over Lord Indra. Lord Krishna, with a motive to save the entire village from the heavy rainfall, lifted the Govardhan parvat to provide shelter to the people. After seven days of huge rainfall, Lord Indra accepted his defeat and stopped the rainfall.

Devotees on this day prepare a hill of cow dung that represents Mount Govardhan. They decorate the mountains with flowers and rangoli. They offer prayers to Lord Govardhan to protect their families from any kind of bad deeds.