Govardhan Puja is a Hindu pageant devoted to Lord Krishna. The devotees on today 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 gadgets in tiers or steps. This metaphorically represents Govardhan Hill. The ritual is noticed as a mark of gratitude and renews religion in taking refuge in Lord Krishna.
Govardhan Puja 2025 is on October 22, Wednesday.
The Govardhan Puja or Annakut pageant happens on the primary lunar day (Ekam) of the Shukla Paksha (brilliant fortnight) within the month of Kartik, which is often the day after Diwali – the pageant of lights.
The day will probably 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 individuals of Vrindavan from torrential rains created by Indra. Thus, the Govardhan Puja pageant is a remembrance of how god will defend the devotees who take singular refuge in him. It is without doubt one of the necessary festivals for the Vaishnava cults.
Govardhan Puja 2025 Date & Necessary Timings
- Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat: October 22, 06:26 AM – 08:42 AM
- Period – 02 Hours 16 Minutes
- Govardhan Puja Sayankala Muhurat: October 22, 03:29 PM – 05:44 PM
- Period – 02 Hours 16 Minutes
- Pratipada Tithi Begins: October 21, 05:54 PM
- Pratipada Tithi Ends: October 22, 08:16 PM
- Dawn : October 22, 6:26 AM
- Sundown : October 22, 5:44 PM
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Govardhan Puja and Diwali
Govardhan Puja or Annakut Puja can be identified by the names Bali Pratipada, Padwa and so forth. The pageant additionally coincides with the New Yr’s Day of Gujarat and the Haryana area.
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 brilliant fortnight) of the Kartik month. Amavasya (new moon) marking the top of the 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 recommend Govardhan Puja celebrations on the Pratipada Tithi of the Kartik month. Sometimes, relying on the lunar cycles, there is usually 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 response to 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 equivalent to dal, greens, pulses and fried savoury are organized. A mound of cooked grains representing Mount Govardhan is positioned within the centre.
The devotees might 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 usually the biggest pageant of the yr in these temples. The guests to the BAPS temples unfold internationally study Hindu spirituality, supply prayers and interact 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 biggest Annakut ever held.
Singing Thaal (Kirtans or devotional hymns composed by the poet Paramhansas of Swaminarayan) is a typical Govardhan Puja pageant observance in Swaminarayan temples. These Kirtans are about praying to the deity to just accept the totally different meals gadgets.
Mount Govardhan within the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh is a significant 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 best way 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 massive numbers. Annakut prasad is distributed to everybody who visits these temples on today.
Making cow dung hillocks which can be symbolic of Mount Govardhan is a ritual adopted in some areas, notably 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 today. So, the devotees worship the Mount Govardhan duplicate made 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 today. They provide baths to their cattle and beautify them with garlands and saffron.
Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva is the title by which today 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 folks. The idea is that Vamana has given Bali the boon to go to Prithvi Lok (Earth) from the Patal Lok (netherworld) on today. For the individuals of Maharashtra, that is an event for celebrating selfless love and devotion between husband and spouse. Spouse performing Aarti on husband and husband providing presents in return is a typical 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 Yr’s Day. Gujarati New Yr’s 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 sooner or later earlier than the Gujarati New Yr’s 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 residing 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 sources for his or her livelihood. Because the individuals 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 individuals and cattle of the area.
After seven days of steady rains and seeing the individuals of Gokul being unaffected, Indra accepted defeat and bowed to Krishna’s superiority. Since then, individuals 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 must be respectful in the direction of the sources nature has bestowed on us. The event of Govardhan Puja reminds us of the significance of preserving nature for our existence.
