Govardhan Puja

Govardhan Puja is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Krishna. This festival is celebrated primarily in Northern and Western part of India. Govardhan Puja is also known as Annakut or Annakoot, which literally translates to “the Mountain of Grains.”

Story Behind Govardhan Puja

Like every other festival celebrated in the Hindu Culture, Govardhan Puja also has an interesting story behind its origin.

According to the Vishnu Purana, Lord Vishnu was born to Vasudev and Devaki as Krishna in Dwapar Yuga. However, he was raised by Nandji and Yashoda as Kansa was trying to kill him.

Curiosity of Krishna

Once Lord Krishna watched his father preparing a sacrifice along with other villagers to please Indra. Krishna got curious about the reason behind the sacrifice and asked his father.

Nand Maharaj answered by telling that ” Indra is the King of heaven and controls the rain falling on earth. This sacrifice is meant to be the annual worship ritual of Indra, which has been in practice for several generations. If this ritual is not followed than Indra would get angry and there will be no rain which would lead to a drought. That would further lead to the scarcity of grains and food.

Krishna's Suggestion

Upon listening to his father, Krishna said that “As the god of rain, it is duty of Indra to shower water on earth at appropriate times. But, we should pay respects to the Govardhan Mountain, who’s forests provides food for our cattle and fruits for our villagers.”

Nandji and other villagers agreed to what Krishna said and decided to pay tribute to Govardhan instead of Indra. When Indra got to know about this decision of inhabitants of Vrindavan, he got enraged. In his rage, he vented his anger on the village and flooded the village with heavy rains and floods, thus challenging Lord Krishna.

Krishna Lifting Goverdhan Mountain

After Indra got angry and flooded the whole village, the villagers went to Lord Krishna for help. Upon hearing the plea of the villagers Krishna said “We prayed to Govardhan instead of Indra, so he will protect us from the rainstorm and floods.”

After saying that, Krishna went to the Govardhan Mountain, grabbed it and lifted it with the little finger of his left hand. Everyone of the general population of Vrindavan and cattle amassed beneath the lifted mountain and stayed safe.

Lord Krishna held the mountain for 7 days and 7 nights in order break down Indra’s pride and punish him for not fulfilling his duty.

Lord Krishna was also came to be known as “Govardhandhari”or “Giridhar” for his feat of lifting and holding the mountain. Since that day, Govardhan Puja became accepted and henceforth is being celebrated every year by believers of Lord Krishna.

Govardhan Puja Vidhi

There is a ritual in Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh where cow dung hillocks are made as a symbol of Mount Govardhan. The hillocks are then decorated with flowers, rice puffs, seekh, cotton and batasha etc. Later the symbolic Govardhan mountain is worshiped using akshat, kumkum and 7 parikrima are done around the hillocks. On this auspicious day, some people also decorate their bulls and cows with garlands and worship them.

In Gujarat, Govardhan is celebrated as “Betu Baras” which marks the Gujarati New Year. It also marks the first day of the Vikram Samvat, the Hindu Calendar.

In Maharashtra, Govardhan Puja is celebrated as “Gudi Padwa” and there is a tradition that men give gifts to their wives.