New Delhi: Govardhan Puja is celebrated, on the first day of Shukla Paksha of the Kartik month. On this day, prayers are offered at Govardhan Mountain in Mathura, which Shri Krishna raised to protect the Braj people from flooding and strong rains. This year, it will be celebrated on October 26. On this day, devotees present Lord Krishna with a tremendous quantity of food that takes the appearance of a mountain.
Hence, the celebration is also known as Annakut, which means "mountain of food" and chhappan bhog is offered to Krishna on this Day. An important activity on the day is the Govardhan Parikrama, which involves going around the hill.
Govardhan Puja 2022: Legend
The Vishnu Puran records that Lord Krishna once questioned his mother Yashodaji about why everyone offered prayers and adoration to the God Indra. To this, Mata Yashodha said that people worship God Indra to have enough rain to sow, graze animals, and obtain cereal from planted regions. Young Kanha disagreed with Maa Yashoda and proposed that they worship Govardhan Parvat instead of Lord Indra to ensure that the peasants would receive adequate rains. The peasants were told by Lord Krishna to cease bringing enormous amounts of food to the god Indra and instead use it to feed their own families.
Lord Indra is said to be very aggressive. He had become furious when he learned that the people had stopped worshipping him. In wrath, he decided to inflict revenge on them by unleashing a deluge of rain. Everyone was terrified. Young Krishna immediately brought the residents to Govardhan hill after seeing their plight and their cries for help.
There, he lifted the mountain with his little finger under which the villagers and their cattle sought safety. Despite severe weather, the inhabitants were unhurt when Lord Krishna lifted the hill for seven days in a row. Lord Indra realised that the little boy was none other than Lord Vishnu.
He instantly bowed down before the Lord and confessed his fault. Shri Krishna did this to demolish Lord Indra's ego and show that he was the source of all power.
Govardhan Puja 2022: Significance
This ceremony has great significance in the Hindu religion. On this day, devotees worship the cow, Govardhan Parvat, and Lord Shri Krishna. Govardhan Puja is a festival that honours Lord Krishna and shows respect and adoration for Mother Nature. Worshipers are said to receive Lord Krishna's blessings on this day if they worship the Govardhan hill and his favoured cows.
Hindu legend states that on this day, Lord Krishna raised the Govardhan Parvat upon his little finger to avert the wrath of Lord Indra, the Rain God, on the inhabitants of Vrindavan. With tremendous fervour, people started to worship Govardhan Parvat, and Lord Krishna was given the titles "Govardhandhari" and "Girirdhari."
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