Govardhan Puja is an auspicious Hindu festival and it is celebrated the next day of the Diwali festival. In Hindu culture, this festival is having its own significance. This year Govardhan puja is celebrated on 15 November 2021. On this day people worship Govardhan Mountain and Baal roop of Lord Krishna. Also on this day, people offer delicious foods to Govardhan Mountain and to their idols to express their gratitude. In few places, peoples call Govardhan puja Annakut Puja. This Annakat puja is celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali. According to a few calendars fourth day of Diwali is counted as the starting of the New Year. And also we do Vishvakarma Puja on this day. On this day all craftsmen honor their tools and machines.
Why do we celebrate Govardhan Puja on the next day of Diwali?
We do Govardhan Puja on the next day of Diwali. In Hindu culture, it is believed that doing Govardhan puja brings happiness and prosperity to our homes and lives. This auspicious festival is associated with cows or gaumata because we do worship Lord Krishna and the other name of Lord Krishna is Gopal or Gopalak. In this childhood, he uses to raise the calves.
History and Significance
When Lord Shri Krishna was young he asked his mother why all the villagers doing such a huge Puja. Then Mata Yashoda describes that they are doing this huge Puja to impress Lord Indra, because of lord Indra the rain comes on Earth. Then she said people will not do this puja for Lord Indra will get angry and then he will not offer rain to them. Then Krishna asks why not we do puja of Mountain Govardhan because our cows go to graze on the mountain Govardhan. After this, there was continuous torrential rain for seven days, so everything goes destroyed by the heavy rain and people can’t find a place to live, because everything and everywhere is water. At that time, lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger to give shelter and to protect the people of Vrindavan from the Indra rage. After that Lord Indra give up and ended his ego. So this way festival Govardhan puja began. So this way people started worshipping cows on this day of Govardhan Puja.
So Govardhan’s word is taken from the mountain which is having the same name and this was lifted by Lord Krishna. But the meaning of Govardhan is Go is a Hindi word and in Hindi, we call Go a cow and Vardhan means blessing or sustenance. ‘Go’ also means senses and the term ‘Vardhan also means ‘increase,’ resulting in ‘increasing one’s senses’ by worshipping Krishna. It is believed that those who worship Govardhan hill, increase their belief and devotion towards Shri Krishna.
You Might Also Like:
The History of Diwali in Under 10 Minutes
How to Celebrate Diwali at Home in India?