Govardhan Pooja Rituals- Govardhan Pooja is a Hindu festival. Which is celebrated a day after Diwali with a lot of food that is presented to lord Krishna followed by govardhan Pooja in the evening.
More About Govardhan Pooja
Govardhan Puja, often referred to as Annakut or Annakoot (literally, a “mountain of food”), is a Hindu festival during which followers of Krishna worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and present Krishna with a wide array of vegetarian cuisine as an expression of their thanks.
This day honors the Bhagavat Puran occurrence where Krishna raised Govardhan Hill to give the residents of Vrindavan shelter from torrential downpours. The occurrence is interpreted as a symbol of how God will shield all of his followers who find their sole refuge in him. In a symbolic representation of the Govardhan Hill, devotees offer a mountain of food to God as a ritual reminder and to reaffirm their trust in turning to him for protection. Govardhan Pooja Rituals. The majority of Hindu religions in India and abroad observe the event.
The Annakut celebration takes place the day after Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on the first lunar day of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the month of Kartik.
The Origin Story
Many of Krishna’s divine and valiant deeds with his boyhood buddies are associated with Braj, where he spent most of his childhood. In the Bhagavata Purana, one of the most important episodes is Krishna hoisting Mount Govardhan (Govardhan Hill) on his little finger, a low hill in the center of Braj.
The Bhagavata Purana claims that cowherds who lived in the forest close to Govardhan used to honor Indra, the rain and storm God, during the autumnal festival. Govardhan Pooja Rituals. Krishna disapproved of this because he wanted the locals to worship only the Purna Parmatma and no other gods, stones, idols, etc. Indra became enraged at this suggestion.
Despite being younger than the majority of people in the city, Shri Krishna was regarded highly by all because of his vast knowledge and strength. Therefore, the Gokul population followed Shri Krishna’s recommendation. Govardhan Pooja Rituals. Seeing the people’s loyalty shift away from him and towards Krishna infuriated Indra. Indra made the decision to start thunderstorms and torrential rains in the city as a reaction to his egotistical rage.
Shri Krishna hoisted the Govardhan mount on his little finger and gave all the city’s residents refuge from the storms. When the residents of Gokul were untouched by the storms after 7-8 days of nonstop rain, Indra conceded defeat and put an end to the storms.
In order to honor Mount Govardhan, the locals prepared a “huge offering of foods and delicacies to the mountain,” or “giriyajna.” Krishna later took the form of a mountain himself and accepted the offerings. Indra eventually gave up and submitted to Krishna’s superiority after generating severe rains for seven days. Govardhan Pooja Rituals. One of the most well-known stories from the Bhagavata Purana is this one.
Govardhan Pooja Rituals
Since then, Govardhan has grown into a significant Krishna-follower destination in Braj. One of the oldest traditions in Braj is for believers to walk around the hill on the day of Annakut and feed the mountain. Govardhan Pooja Rituals. The eleven-mile route that makes up the circumambulation is peppered with shrines where worshippers leave flowers and other offerings.
Families fashion a representation of Giriraj Govardhan (the mountain) using cow dung, adding miniature cow figurines and grass twigs to represent trees and other vegetation.
The fifty-six food items (Chappan bhog) are traditionally made and distributed in the evenings in the days preceding Annakut.
Another traditional way to perform the ritual
Is by a member of the cow-herding caste, who circles the hill with a cow and a bull while being followed by families from the village. Govardhan Pooja Rituals. After sacrificing the food on the hill, they eat the sanctified food. The celebration frequently draws a sizable throng, which includes Mathura’s Chaube brahmins.
Then, sadhus and worshippers in every Swaminarayan mandir sing “Thaal,” which are kirtans or hymns of devotion written by the poet Paramahansa of Swaminarayan. These kirtans talk about asking the Deities to accept the food while describing the various foods. Approximately an hour of singing is followed by a large arti. After that, worshippers perform puja, walk around the Deities, and present food.
As long as the Annakut offerings are still in front of the Deities, Arti may be performed numerous times throughout the day in some mandirs. Devotees consume portions of the Annakut as prasad, or holy food, in the evening. Govardhan Pooja Rituals. This food is offered to God and accepted as his mercy.
Some craftsman also pays their gratitude to their tools and machinery. Which is known as Vishwakarma Puja and it is also celebrated on the same day.
Date of Govardhan Puja
This Year Govardhan Puja Will Be celebrated on 25th October 2022 According to the IST Timings.
Suggested Read: Govardhan Puja : History-Traditions
Krishna Janmashtami: History and Celebration
Krishna Janmashtami: Why we celebrate for two days?
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