The Significance and Celebration of Govardhan Puja

Govardhan Puja (Padwa), which is also popularly known as Annakut Puja, would be celebrated in different states of the country on 31st October (Monday) in 2016. People celebrate the festival by worshipping Lord Krishna and offer the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, cereals and leafy vegetables. The importance of nature was taught to the people of Vrindavan by Lord Krishna on this day.

The legendary story behind Govardhan Puja

The legendary story in Vishnu Purana narrates the incident in which the town of Gokul was saved from the incessant rains by Shri Krishna. People of Gokul used to worship Lord Indra, as they believed that the God was responsible for the rains they received. Lord Krishna wanted to change the opinion of the people and hence He asked them to worship Govardhan Parbat as the hill was responsible for bringing the rains on Earth and also provided them food and shelter. Everyone agreed to what Lord Krishna said and they started worshipping Govardhan Parbat instead of Lord Indra. When Indra saw the shifted religious inclination of people towards the Annakut hill, He was infuriated and started raining very heavily on the town. The life of people of Gokul was in danger. Lord Krishna saw all this and He lifted the Govardhan Parbat on His little finger and covered the entire Gokul under the hill. The proud Indra was thus defeated by Lord Krishna and since then the day is celebrated and people offer their prayers to Govardhan Parbat (also called Mountain of Food). Lord Krishna is therefore known as ‘Govardhandhari’ or ‘Giridhari’.

How to perform Govardhan Puja?

The festival is celebrated with great zeal and zest by people. There is a ritual of making a hillock (which symbolizes Govardhan Parbat) with cow dungs on the day of Govardhan Puja. People then decorate the hillock with garlands of flowers and worship it. The devotees happily move around the Mount Govardhan made of cow dung and offer their prayers to the mighty mountain. Temples of Shri Krishna are decorated on the eve of Govardhan puja. People also offer a number of 56 or 108 dishes to Lord Krishna on the day. The idol of Lord Krishna is bathed with milk and is then dressed with new clothes and jewellery. Bhajans are recited, dances are done and sweets are distributed by people to celebrate the festival. If you wish to see the day’s real colours then Gokul and Mathura are the right places where you can feel the festival’s vibes.