Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the second day of Diwali in the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. People also know it by the name Annakoot. Govardhan Puja is celebrated a day after Diwali, which is the fourth day of the grand 5-day Hindu festival. Sometimes there is a gap of one day between Diwali and Govardhan Puja. Which is called ‘Ekam’. Cows are worshipped on this day. Cows are considered to be the form of Goddess Lakshmi. Cows provide us with health through their milk. Krishna and Govardhan Puja are mainly celebrated to show respect and faith in cows. This is one such festival. In which Lord Krishna and Govardhan Mountain are worshipped. Brajvasis had started Govardhan Puja.
Govardhan Puja Story
The significance of Govardhan Puja has been described and elaborated on in the Vishnu Purana. It is a story about Lord Krishna’s victory over Lord Indra, the god of rain.
Once upon a time, the people of Gokul were preparing to worship Lord Indra. They believed that Lord Indra was responsible for the good downpour, fodder for cows, and production of cereals. However, Lord Krishna told them that they should instead worship Govardhan Parvat, a hill that provided food for the cows and was responsible for the good rainfall.
The people of Gokul agreed to Lord Krishna’s suggestion and began to worship Govardhan Parvat. Lord Indra was enraged by this and sent heavy rains to Gokul. The people of Gokul were terrified, but Lord Krishna came to their rescue. He lifted Govardhan Parvat on his little finger and sheltered the people of Gokul from the rain.
After seven days, Lord Indra realized that he could not defeat Lord Krishna. He apologized to Lord Krishna and worshipped him.
Govardhan Puja is celebrated to commemorate Lord Krishna’s victory over Lord Indra and to express gratitude to Govardhan Parvat for its many blessings.
Why is Govardhan Puja significant?
Govardhan Puja is significant because it teaches us the following lessons:
- We should be grateful to nature for all that it provides us.
- We should have faith in God and trust that He will protect us from all harm.
- We should be humble and not let our pride get the best of us.
Govardhan Puja is a reminder that God is always with us and that we should never lose faith in Him.
Significance of Govardhan Puja and Bali Pratipada
Govardhan Puja and Bali Pratipada are both important Hindu festivals that celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Govardhan Puja teaches us the importance of being humble and grateful to nature, while Bali Pratipada teaches us the importance of forgiveness and compassion.
Annakut Puja & Chappan Bhog
Gowardhan Puja is also known as Annakut Puja. On this day food made of cereals like wheat, rice, curry made of gram flour and leafy vegetables is cooked and offered to Lord Krishna. In Maharashtra, the same day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. This day commemorates the victory of Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, over King Bali. According to legend, Vamana tricked Bali into giving him three paces of land and then used those paces to cover the entire universe, leaving Bali with no place to stand. Vamana then pushed Bali to Patala Lok, the underworld. However, Vamana granted Bali a boon, allowing him to return to Earth for one day each year. It is believed that Bali returns to Earth on Bali Pratipada.
Govardhan Puja and Bali Pratipada often coincide with Gujarati New Year’s Day, which is celebrated on the first day of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of the Kartika month. However, depending on the start time of the Pratipada Tithi (lunar day), Govardhan Puja may be celebrated one day before Gujarati New Year’s Day.
Govardhan Puja and Annakut
. It is also known as Annakut Puja, which means “festival of heaps of food.” On this day, people prepare a variety of dishes from cereals, vegetables, and lentils, and offer them to Lord Krishna.
Annakut is a symbol of the abundance and prosperity that Lord Krishna bestows upon his devotees. It is also a reminder of the importance of sharing and caring for others.
Govardhan Parvat
Govardhan Parvat is a hill located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a sacred place for Hindus, as it is believed to be the place where Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill to protect the people of Gokul from the wrath of Lord Indra.
Govardhan Parvat
On Govardhan Puja day, millions of devotees visit Govardhan Parvat to perform Parikrama, which is a circumambulation of the hill. Parikrama is believed to be a very auspicious act, and it is said that those who perform it with devotion are blessed by Lord Krishna.
Significance of Govardhan Puja and Annakut
Govardhan Puja and Annakut are both important Hindu festivals that celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Govardhan Puja teaches us the importance of being humble and grateful to nature, while Annakut teaches us the importance of sharing and caring for others.
Both of these festivals are also a reminder that God is always with us and that we should never give up hope.
Dates of this festival in the current year
In 2023, the festival of Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on 14 November.