Goverdhan Parvat, view from the western side
Govardhan Puja/ Annakut (02.11.2024)
- Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
Govardhan Puja is the main ritual performed during Annakut, and is one segment of the day-long Annakut festival. However, some treat Govardhan Puja and Annakut as the same.
Govardhan Puja falls on the next/ subsequent day after Deepavali Puja, celebrating Lord Krishna’s symbolic victory over God Indra.
As per Bhagavata Purana, to save people from drowning due to widespread torrential rains because of the fury of God Indra, Lord Krishna called everyone to Govardhan Parvat and lifted it on this little finger, so that everyone can take refuge under it. He stood still holding the mountain for 7 days until Lord Indra realised his mistake and cleared the rain.
On this day, devotees circumambulate Goverdhan Parbat, a 21 km trek, with several temples on the route.
During these seven days when Lord Krishna held the mountain on his little finger, he did not eat a single grain of food, against the 8 dishes he ate every day. Therefore, at the end of the seventh day, people of Vrindavan cook 56 dishes and offer it to him as gratitude.
On Govardhan/Annakut Puja, devotees cook and offer 56 dishes, called Chhappan bhog, to Lord Krishna as a mark of gratitude. There are versions of what constitutes chappan bhog and can be seen at the link https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/chappan-bhog-rohit-kumar-parmar .
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
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