Govardhan Puja 2023 is one of many festivals that take part in India. The festival is celebrated with utmost zeal and devotion. This Govardhan Puja day is also known as the ‘Annakoot Puja,’ and it signifies the defeat of the king of all gods, Indra by Lord Krishna. Worshippers on this auspicious day worship Lord Krishna and at the same time the Govardhan Mountain. As per the Hindu calendar, devotees celebrate this festival on the Pratibha Tithi, Shukla paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. Let’s cast a glance at the significance, and rituals about Govardhan Puja.
Govardhan Puja 2023 Date and Tithi
Govardhan Puja is celebrated on the very next day of Diwali, the luminous occasion. It is the 4th day of the 5-day long festival that starts with Govatsa Dwadashi Puja. Here we are going to mention the important dates and timings for Govardhan Puja:
Puja Date is scheduled on Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat Runs from 06:43 to 08:52.
The Pratipada Tithi begins at14:56 on November 13, 2023.
Pratipada Tithi ends at 14:36 on Nov 14, 2023
Significance of Govardhan Puja
For the Hindus this festival has great significance. Devotees go on worshipping Lord Shri Krishna, Govardhan Parvat, and the cows on this very day. The festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna, as well as hints at expressing heartfelt appreciation and respect towards Mother Nature. On this day, devotees are said to invoke Lord Krishna’s blessings worshipping the Govardhan Parvat (Mountain) and the cows very dear to Lord Krishna.
Hindu mythology says that, Lord Krishna raised Govardhan Parvat on his little finger on this particular day to save the people of Vrindavan from the wrath of Lord Indra. As a result, people started worshipping the Govardhan Parvat with great enthusiasm, and Lord Krishna was given the names ‘Govardhandhari’ and ‘Giri Dhari.’ (One who raises the mountain Govardhan)
How Govardhan Puja Initiated?
As per the scriptures it was Lord Krishna who once asked His mother Yashoda why all worship and pray to Indra, who is also the god of rains. Mother Yashoda explained that people worshipped Indra in order to get enough rains for sowing seeds, foddering cows, or growing cereals. Kid Kanha was not satisfied with Yashoda’s answer and reiterated that instead of worshipping Lord Indra people should worship Govardhan Parvat which would help the villagers to attract clouds and showers. Lord Krishna forbade the villagers to go for Indra Puja. He dissuaded them from offering huge quantities of food to Indra in the form of Yagna and advised them to use all the foods to feed their families.
When Indra Dev saw that people stopped worshipping him, he became furious and decided to take revenge on the people in the form of constant showers. Tremendous shower for hours and days brought the life of the villagers to a standstill. They prayed to Indra but he paid no heed to them, rather began to lash the earth with thunder showers. This made everyone panic- stricken.
In this crucial juncture Lord Krishna intervened. Observing the sufferings of the villagers Lord Krishna immediately led the villagers to the Govardhan Mountain. Thereafter He lifted the mountain on his little finger. The villagers took shelter under the Govardhan Mountain with all their pets. Lord Krishna raised the Mountain for 7 consecutive days and saved the villagers from torrential thunder showers. Indra soon realized that the kid was none other than the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He admitted his mistake and apologized for his misbehave. In this way, Shri Krishna was able to shatter the ego of Indra’s ego and proved that He was the centre of strength and the foremost reliever of all pains. Since then Shri Krishna Govardhan Puja was in vogue in Vrindavan. Even today people of the area assembled to thank the Lord for His great deed in the form of Puja. It is believed that performing the Puja on this very day brings immense prosperity in the lives of the worshippers.
What is Annakut Puja?
The Annakut Puja, is another name of Govardhan Puja. It is a religiously significant aspect of 5-day long Diwali the festival of light and glowing. Annakut, means mountain of food. It is an occasion dedicated to Lord Krishna. On this particular day, devotees go on preparing varieties of dishes and offer them to Lord Krishna to express their sheer thankfulness and gratitude to the Lord to attain His blessings.
When is Annakut Puja?
In the Hindu month of Kartik, right after the main day of Diwali, Annakut Puja or Govardhan Puja and Bali Pratipada are observed.
Why is Annakut Puja Observed?
The Annakut Puja is observed to honor the victory of Lord Krishna over Lord Indra. Lord Krishna saved the people of Gokul from the wrath of Lord Indra with the help of Govardhan Parvat holding it up with His little finger. The greatest part of the occasion is devotees prepare food in large quantities and offer it to different deities. It is a day to be thankful to all gods and goddesses and show respect to Mother Nature for protecting and blessing humans. Preparation of Annakut is the way of showing thanks to all those who always save human kinds from different debacles.
How is Annakut Prepared?
Annakut preparation is to go for preparing numerous dishes made from different cereals like wheat, rice, green vegetables, besan, curry and various other things.
The Annakut Puja Vidhi?
On this day, people cook 56 types of food items and offer it as 'Bhog' or offerings to Lord Krishna.
Prior to offering the 'Annakut Bhog', the idol of Lord Krishna is bathed with milk and then bright clothes and beautiful jewelries are donned.
The 'Chappan Bhog' is then offered to Lord Krishna followed by aarti of the Govardhan. Annakut Prasad' is shared with the pilgrims who travel to worship Govardhan Mountain. The elderly people, who fail to walk for a long time on the mountain, prepare the Chhappan Bhoga for Lord Krishna. Chappan Bhog comprises of 56 different food items made up of various delicacies, sweets or savories. Taking the prasad of Chappan Bhog one receives the divine blessings of Lord Krishna. After worshipping Lord Krishna, the Chappan Bhog prasad is catered among other devotees who are busy in singing the Govardhan Puja bhajan.
Govardhan Puja Vidhi
Following rituals are followed by devotees who go for Govardhan Puja:
One should wake up early in the morning and get ready.
Then light diyas and incense sticks inside the Puja rooms
Devotees make Govardhan Parvat with cow dung and pray to it.
On this day Chhapan Bhog is prepared and offered to the idol of Lord Krishna as Govardhan.
Devotees sing devotional songs, bhajans, chant mantras and revolve around the idol of Govardhan with earnest good will.
Lastly, aarti is done and Prasad is served among other devotees.
Govardhan Puja Mantra
Once you have faith in Lord Krishna, you can chant the Govardhan mantra given below in front of the Govardhan idol bring an end to your puja:
।।गोवर्धन धराधार गोकुल त्राणकारक। विष्णुबाहु कृतोच्छ्राय गवां कोटिप्रभो भव।।
Besides these, there are some other beneficial mantras that one can chant to get the blessings of Lord Krishna. Some popular mantras are as such:
The Great Mantra: One can go on chanting the Mahamantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,Krishna Kirishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare’. This is a very powerful mantra that one can chant while going for Govardhan Puja.
Another Mantra is Vishnu Sahshra Naam, thousand names of Lord Vishnu. One can easily chant this hymn. It is very powerful mantra and can bring peace and prosperity for the devotees.
Another very holy mantra is Govind Naamavali. It is a series of 108 names of Lord Vishnu. Tremendously powerful if one can chant it with utmost devotion, it can bring all round prosperity, health and wealth. Mental serenity is also attained by all means.
Gayatri Mantra is a very powerful mantra and prevalent among the devoted Indians. It is also a powerful mantra and is regarded the first one to be uttered by the saints in the time of Vedas. Since the time of Vedas this particular mantra is uttered by all. Once it was told that this mantra is specific for the Brahmins only. But later on it was noted that people irrespective of caste and creed chant the mantra to gain absolute peace and mental stability. This powerful mantra has the power to bring down the heavenly joy on the very soil of this mundane world.
Takeaway
In Gujarat, this particular day is remembered as the Gujarati New Year whereas in Maharashtra, Govardhan Puja is called as ‘Bali Padva’ or ‘Bali Pratipada’. Legends say that Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu beat the vanity of Bali and sent him to ‘Patala Loka’(below the earth) hence it is believed that king Bali visits earth on this very day.
This day is also meant as ‘Vishwakarma Day’ in many parts of the country where people remain busy in worshipping their tools, machineries and equipments.
But whatever it may be, Govardhan Puja 2023 is awaited by millions of devoted people who are ready to bow down their heads at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.
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