Govardhan Puja is a Hindu pageant devoted to Lord Krishna. The devotees on this present day supply a big number of vegetarian meals to Krishna and worship the Govardhan Hill. The pageant is also called Annakut, which implies a mountain of meals. Devotees supply a mountain of meals, arranging the meals objects in tiers or steps. This metaphorically represents Govardhan Hill. The ritual is noticed as a mark of gratitude and renews the religion in taking refuge in Lord Krishna.

Govardhan Puja 2023 is on November 13, Monday.

The Govardhan Puja or Annakut pageant happens on the primary lunar day (Ekam) of the Shukla Paksha (vibrant fortnight) within the month of Kartik, which is often the day after Diwali – the pageant of lights.
The day will likely be celebrated because the event the place Lord Krishna defeated Indra. It marked the legend within the Bhagavata Purana when Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill to guard the folks of Vrindavan from torrential rains created by Indra. Thus, the Govardhan Puja pageant is a remembrance of how god will shield the devotees who take singular refuge in him. It is likely one of the essential festivals for the Vaishnava cults.

Govardhan Puja 2023 Date & Essential Timings

• Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat : November 14, 06:43 AM – 08:54 AM
• Length – 02 Hours 11 Minutes
• Govardhan Puja Sayankala Muhurat : November 14, 03:27 PM – 05:38 PM
• Length – 02 Hours 11 Minutes
• Pratipada Tithi Begins : November 13, 02:57 PM
• Pratipada Tithi Ends : November 14, 02:36 PM
• Dawn : 6:43 AM
• Sundown : 5:38 PM

Govardhan Puja and Diwali

Govardhan Puja or Annakut Puja can be recognized by the names Bali Pratipada, Padwa and so forth. The pageant additionally coincides with the New 12 months day of Gujarat and the Haryana areas.
More often than not, Govardhan Puja falls the day after the primary Diwali within the month of Kartik. Diwali, within the northern areas of India, is a five-day-long pageant extending from the Krishna Paksha Thrayodashi (thirteenth lunar day at nighttime fortnight) of the Ashwin month to the Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (2nd lunar day within the vibrant fortnight) of the Kartik month. Amavasya (new moon) marking the tip of Ashwin month, is the primary Diwali day. So, Govardhan Puja or Annakut is noticed on the fourth day of the 5-day grand Diwali pageant. The Govardhan Puja rituals are linked to the rituals of the 5 days of Diwali. Whereas the rituals of the primary three days of Diwali are symbolic of inviting larger wealth and prosperity, the Annakut day is devoted to providing gratitude for Krishna’s beneficence.
Some spiritual texts counsel Govardhan Puja celebrations on the Pratipada Tithi of Kartik month. Sometimes, relying on the lunar cycles, there could be a day hole between Diwali and Govardhan Puja celebrations.
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Govardhan Puja Rituals & Celebrations

The rituals related to Govardhan Puja fluctuate in accordance with totally different areas and totally different sects in Hinduism. It’s celebrated with nice enthusiasm within the states of Haryana, Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The preparation of Annakut (mountain of meals) is an integral a part of the Govardhan Puja pageant. Devotees put together a big number of vegetarian meals utilizing wheat, rice, curry of gram flour and leafy greens and supply them to Lord Krishna. They organize all kinds of vegetarian meals in tiers or steps in entrance of the deity. The sweets are positioned nearest to the deity, and because the tiers descend, different meals reminiscent of dal, greens, pulses and fried savoury are organized. A mound of cooked grains representing Mount Govardhan is positioned within the centre. The devotees could put together 108 or 56 styles of meals and supply them as Bhog to the deity. The Govardhan or Annakut Puja contains bathing the Krishna idols with milk, adorning them with dazzling garments and jewelry, and worshipping within the conventional approach with Bhog and Aarti. After the Puja, the Annakut Prasad is distributed.
Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) – the Hindu denomination inside the Swaminarayan Sampradaya celebrates Annakut at roughly 3,850 BAPS temples and centres all through the world. It’s typically the most important pageant of the 12 months in these temples. The guests to the BAPS temples unfold the world over find out about Hindu spirituality, supply prayers and have interaction in different devotional actions. These gatherings additionally present a platform for reaffirming the sense of group. The Annakut with over 3500 vegetarian dishes organised in BAPS Atladra Mandir in Gujarat in 2019 holds the Guinness World file for the most important Annakut ever held.
Singing Thaal (Kirtans or devotional hymns composed by the poet Paramhansas of Swaminarayan) is a standard Govardhan Puja pageant observance in Swaminarayan temples. These Kirtans are about praying to the deity to simply accept the totally different meals objects.
Mount Govardhan within the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh is a serious pilgrimage website for the devotees of Krishna. On the day of Annakut, lakhs of devotees go to Mount Govardhan and circumambulate the mountain to hunt the blessings of the lord. This circumambulation consists of an eleven-mile trek throughout which the devotees go to the shrines on the way in which and make their choices.
The celebrations of Govardhan Puja in Nathdwara, Mathura and Vrindavan are very notable. Within the temples right here, the deities are given a milk tub earlier than being adorned in elegant garments and ornaments. Particular prayers are organised right here, and devotees flock to those locations in giant numbers. Annakut prasad is distributed to everybody who visits these temples on this present day.
Making cow dung hillocks which might be symbolic of Mount Govardhan is a ritual adopted in some areas, significantly within the state of Haryana. This includes making a mannequin of Mount Govardhan utilizing cow dung and adorning it with flowers. Govardhan Giri or Mount Govardhan is worshipped as a god in its personal proper on this present day. So, the devotees worship the Mount Govardhan duplicate fabricated from cow dung, performing Puja and Parikarma (the ritualistic circumambulation). They worship the cow dung hillocks utilizing a clay lamp, incense sticks, kumkum, fruits, honey, curd, milk, Ganga Jal and so forth. The Puja is carried out within the early morning or within the night. Whereas performing the Parikarma, devotees hail God Govardhan and pray to guard them from the hardships of life. The animals that assist them in agriculture are additionally honoured on this present day. They offer baths to their cattle and adorn them with garlands and saffron.
Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva is the title by which this present day is noticed in Maharashtra. This pageant commemorates the victory of Vamana (an incarnation of Vishnu) over King Bali and the return of Bali to go to his land and other people. The idea is that Vamana has given Bali the boon to go to Prithvi Lok (Earth) from the Patal Lok (netherworld) on this present day. For the folks of Maharashtra, that is an event for celebrating selfless love and devotion between husband and spouse. Spouse performing Aarti on husband and husband providing items in return is a standard Bali Padva ritual adopted right here. Bali Padyami and Kartik Shudha Padwa are another names of this pageant.
Vishwakarma Day is noticed on this event (the day after Diwali) in some states of India. Lord Vishwakarma is the god of expert craftspeople, and devotees dedicate this event to worshipping instruments and implements, together with industrial equipment.
Annakut or Govardhan Puja, for some believers, can be an event for transmitting spiritual and cultural values to youngsters. Within the states of Haryana and Gujarat, Govardhan Puja coincides with their New 12 months day. Gujarati New 12 months day is widely known on the Shukla Paksha Pratipada of Kartik month. Sometimes, relying on the beginning time of Pratipada Tithi, Govardhan Puja celebrations are noticed in the future earlier than Gujarati New 12 months day.

The mythology of Govardhan Puja

The most typical mythology related to the Govardhan Puja pageant is an incident described within the Bhagavata Purana. This includes Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to offer shelter to the villagers of Gokul from the torrential rains lashing the realm.
The story is that the villagers dwelling near Mount Govardhan used to worship Indra, the god of rain and storm. Krishna didn’t approve of this, and he suggested the villagers to worship Govardhan hill, which is the only real supplier of pure assets for his or her livelihood. Because the folks of Gokul agreed with Shri Krishna’s recommendation and their devotion diverted to Mount Govardhan, Indra determined to provoke thunderstorms and heavy rains within the space. When torrential rains hit Gokul, Krishna lifted the Govardhan on his little finger and supplied shelter to the folks and cattle of the area.
After seven days of steady rains and seeing the folks of Gokul being unaffected, Indra accepted defeat and bowed to Krishna’s superiority. Since then, folks started worshipping Mount Govardhan, and Lord Krishna was given the names Govardhandhari and Girirdhari.
This story can be a message to people, emphasising the truth that we’re depending on Mom Nature and ought to be respectful in direction of the assets nature has bestowed on us. The event of Govardhan Puja reminds us of the significance of preserving nature for our existence.