"Unveiling the Grandeur of Goverdhan Puja: A Hindu Festival"
"Goverdhan Puja, also known as Annakut Puja, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated across India, commemorating Lord Krishna's victory over Indra by lifting the Goverdhan Hill to protect villagers from heavy rains. The festival involves creating a mound symbolizing Mount Goverdhan, preparing a large variety of vegetarian food, and participating in processions, bhajans, and storytelling, with grand celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan."
Goverdhan Puja
Significance
Goverdhan Puja, also known as Annakut Puja, is a Hindu festival that is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm across India. The festival is observed on the first lunar day of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik, which falls during October-November in the Gregorian calendar. The festival holds immense significance as it commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over Indra, the god of rain and thunder, and the lifting of the Goverdhan Hill to protect the villagers from torrential rains.
Story
The story behind Goverdhan Puja is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. According to the Bhagavata Purana, the people of Vrindavan used to worship Indra, the god of rain and thunder, for good rainfall and abundant harvest. However, Lord Krishna convinced them to worship Mount Goverdhan instead, as it was the actual source of their sustenance. Angered by this, Indra sent torrential rains to the village. To protect the villagers, Lord Krishna lifted the Goverdhan Hill on his little finger, providing a shelter to the people and cattle from the rain. This act of Lord Krishna is celebrated as Goverdhan Puja.
Celebration across India
Goverdhan Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm across India, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Bihar. The celebration involves making a mound of cow dung or mud, symbolizing Mount Goverdhan, which is then beautifully decorated with flowers. Devotees prepare a large variety of vegetarian food, known as 'Annakut' or 'Mountain of Food', and offer it to Lord Krishna. The food is later distributed among the devotees. In many places, processions are taken out, bhajans are sung, and stories related to Lord Krishna are narrated. In Mathura and Vrindavan, the celebrations are grand with temples beautifully decorated and a large number of devotees participating in the rituals.