Govardhan Puja

Govardhan Puja is celebrated on the Pratipada tithi of Shukla Paksh in the month of Kartik. Also known as Annakoot, this day is devoted to the worship of Lord Krishna and the Govardhan Hill.

Lets explore this festival in few quick points:

❂ The people of Gokul worshipped Lord Indra. Young Krishna advised them to worship the Govardhan hill as it provided them with abundant resources to sustain life. The people of Gokul began to offer their gratitude and offerings to the Govardhan Hill, which angered Lord Indra.

❂ Lord Indra, infuriated by this shift in devotion, showed his wrath by torrential rains. Lord Krishna came to the rescue of his people by lifting the Govardhan Hill on his little finger and giving shelter to everyone including the animals under it for straight seven days.

❂ A hillock made of cow dung symbolising the Govardhan Hill is prepared for worship. People decorate it with flowers, offer kumkum and akshat and prepare food. Parikrama of Govardhan Hill is also performed.

❂ 56 varieties of food also known as “chappan bhog” are also prepared at some places and then arranged in a hillock-like manner representing the Govardhan Hill.

❂ Gujaratis celebrate this day as their new year which is known as Bestu Varas.

Govardhan Puja is not merely a festival but an important reminder for all of us to be grateful to Mother Nature for everything that we take from her. It teaches us to question age-old traditions just like Lord Krishna did when people were blindly worshipping Lord Indra and choose what's meaningful.

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