Why Is Govardhan Pooja Observed?

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The festival of Diwali has already started and the whole country is caught up with its fever. Diyas and lanterns are seen everywhere and the loud noise of the fire crackers deafen our ears.

Diwali is a five-day long festival which is celebrated in the Month of Karthik. The first day is celebrated as Dhanteras, then Choti Diwali and then Badi Diwali. The fourth day is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is celebrated as Govardhan Pooja.

Govardhan pooja or the Annakut Pooja is performed on the fourth day of Diwali to celebrate the defeat of God Indra by Lord Krishna. Krishna is said to be the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was the son of Vasudev and Devaki but was fostered by Yashoda and Nandji.

Famous Legend Behind The Observance Of Govardhan Pooja

The people of a town called Gokul used to widely worship Lord Indra, the lord of rains. Sacrifices were made to please the Lord for sufficient rains to sustain their livelihood on the Govardhan parbat.

Krishna did not like this tradition carried on by his father and the other people of Gokul. He told them to stop following such practices blindly. But the people were adamant as they feared that it would invite the wrath of the lord and cause drought in the town.

Lord Krishna tried to explain to them saying that the Govardhan hill is what is providing the people with livelihood and people need to worship it.The people thus started the worship of the Govardhan hill instead of Lord Indra. This angered Lord Indra and he vented his anger on the people by causing heavy rains and floods.

Krishna saved the people by lifting the heavy Govardhan Parvat on his little finger. He continued to lift the mountain on for seven days and seven nights.

Thus, Lord Indra accepted his defeat. From then on, Lord Krishna came to be known as ''Govardhandhari' . Thus, Govardhan Pooja is done on this day by all the devotees of Krishna to seek his blessings.

Celebration Of Govardhan Pooja

This day is also celebrated as Annakut Pooja. Annakut means food and the important tradition of this day is to make different varieties of food and offer it to the Lord.

An idol of Lord Krishna is made using cow dung. It is decorated with flowers and foods. It is bathed in milk and adorned with new clothes and jewellery. People gather together to worship the lord with Aarti and Bhog.

On the morning of Govardhan Pooja, the cows and bulls are bathed and adorned with a tilak of saffron and garland of flowers.

Govardhan Pooja is widely celebrated in Mathura, where the Govardhan Mountain is situated. People still consider the Mountain as their God and believe it to be their source of livelihood. The mountain is worshipped and is offered Chappan Bhog i.e., 56 kinds of dishes.