Govardhan Puja is a an auspicious day during the five-day long celebration of Diwali Festival. It falls on the next day of Diwali i.e. Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Hindu month of Kartik. The holy festival of Govardhan Puja is celebrated to worship Lord Krishna, Govardhan and cows.
Diwali/Deepavali is celebrated on Amavasya of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik. It comes after twenty days of Dussehra, after the end of Sharadiya Navaratri. This festival is usually celebrated for five days.
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How is Performed Goverdhan Puja
Lord Krishna, Govardhan and cows have special significance on this holy day. On the day of Govardhan Puja, followers of Hinduism make a picture of Govardhan mountain with cow dung in the courtyard of the house. They do circumambulation. Lord Krishna is offered Annakoot as Prasad.
Govardhan Puja and Annakoot
Annakoot is offered to the Lord on this day. So, Govardhan Puja is also called ‘Annakoot Puja’. On this day, food is offered to Govardhan god by making annakoot by mixing 51 vegetables. Like Diwali, this festival is also celebrated with great pomp.
Why is done Govardhan Puja?
There is a mythology behind Govardhan Puja. According to Hindu beliefs Shri Krishna saved the people of Brij from the heavy rainfall by holding the Govardhan Mountain on His little finger.
Once Shrikrishna saw that all the people of Brij were worshiping Lord Indra. When he saw his mother also was worshiping Indra, he asked her why do people worship Indra. They were told that they Lord Indra is the god of rain. Rain would produce food and feed our cows. Then, Shri Krishna said that if this is so, then everyone should worship Govardhan mountain because our cows graze there.
After listening to him, all the people of Brij started worshiping Govardhan Mountain instead of Indra. Devraj Indra considered this as his insult and started raining like a cataclysm. Then Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain on his little finger and protected the people of Brij from the heavy rain. After this Indra came to know that Shri Krishna is actually an incarnation of Vishnu and realized his mistake. Later Lord Indraalso had to apologize to Lord Krishna.
On the request of Lord Indra, Lord Krishna kept the Govardhan mountain down and told all the Brajwasis that now they should celebrate Annakoot festival every year by worshiping Govardhan. Since then this festival is celebrated as Govardhan.
Where is Celebrated Govardhan
Govardhan Puja is performed on the next day of Diwali. This year Govardhan Puja is on 5th November, Friday. Diwali is a five-day festival. The fourth day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja. This festival is also known as Annakoot Puja.
This festival is mainly celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to mythology, when Brij residents stopped worshiping Indra at the behest of Lord Krishna and started worshiping Govardhan mountain, Indra got angry and rained torrentially for several days.
Govardhan Puja is performed on the next day of Diwali. This year Govardhan Puja is on 5th November, Friday. Diwali is a five-day festival. The fourth day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja. This festival is also known as Annakoot Puja. This festival is mainly celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
According to mythology, when Brij residents stopped worshiping Indra at the behest of Lord Krishna and started worshiping Govardhan mountain, Indra got angry and rained torrentially for several days.
Govardhan Puja Method-
1. First massage the body with oil.
2. After that take bath.
3. Make Govardhan Parvat from cow dung at the main entrance of the house.
4. Keep the idol of Lord Krishna near the mountain.
5. Now offer prayers according to the law.
Note:- Facts have been taken from various Hindu Mythological text, articles and Wikipedia.
