Govardhan Puja and Annakut

Celebrated the day after Diwali in memory of Shri Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Vraja, with a mountain of food offered to the Lord.

According to the Shrimad Bhagavatam, the cowherds of Vraja used to hold a great sacrifice every year for Indra, the god of rain. The young Shri Krishna explained to Nanda Baba that it was Govardhan Hill that gave their cows grass, water and shelter, and so they should worship Govardhan, the cows and the brahmanas instead. The people of Vraja did so. Indra's pride was wounded and he sent torrents of rain upon Vraja, as if the world were ending. Then Bhagavan Shri Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on the little finger of His left hand like an umbrella and sheltered all the people and animals of Vraja beneath it for seven days. At last Indra realised his mistake and begged the Lord's forgiveness. The story teaches that the Lord always protects those who take refuge in Him, and that pride is sure to fall.

Govardhan Puja is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali, which falls in October or November. In Gujarat the same day is Bestu Varas, the New Year of the Vikram Samvat calendar.

On this day people shape a small Govardhan Hill from cow dung in their courtyards, worship it and walk around it, and the cows are decorated and honoured. Temples prepare the Annakut, literally a mountain of food: a great heap of cooked dishes, sweets and vegetables arranged before the Lord and later distributed as prasad.

At Govardhan and Jatipura near Mathura, huge numbers of devotees walk the parikrama of Giriraj Ji, about twenty-one kilometres around the hill. The Annakut of Shrinathji at Nathdwara is especially famous, and grand Annakut darshan is also held at Dwarka, Dakor and the Pushtimarg havelis throughout Gujarat.

Tithi

Kartik Shukla Pratipada (the day after Diwali)

Month

October–November

Places

Govardhan, Jatipura, Mathura, Nathdwara, Dwarka, Dakor

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10