Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut or Annakoot, is a Hindu festival celebrated on the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika, on the fourth day of Diwali. Devotees worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and offer a large variety of vegetarian food to Krishna as a mark of gratitude.
Govardhan Puja history stems from Bhagavata Purana where Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill to protect the villagers of Vrindavan from a seven-day torrential downpour unleashed by the enraged god, Indra. In defiance of Indra, who was used to receiving annual worship, Krishna encouraged the villagers to worship the hill itself, which was the source of their livelihood. This event symbolizes divine protection, gratitude for nature, and the defeat of arrogance. The people of Vrindavan traditionally worshipped Indra, the god of rain. Krishna convinced them to worship Govardhan Hill instead, which sustained them through its fertile land and provided for their cattle. When he learned about this, Indra became furious and unleashed a torrential downpour upon Vrindavan. To protect the residents, Lord Krishna lifted the entire Govardhan Hill on his little finger, providing a shelter for the people and animals.This event symbolises the power of faith, devotion, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. Govardhan Puja, observed the day after Diwali, is a time when devotees create elaborate replicas of Govardhan Hill using food items.
Beyond its origins, Govardhan Puja is a celebration of community, sharing, and recognising the abundance of nature. It encourages people to appreciate the resources provided by the Earth and foster a sense of responsibility towards the environment. In essence, Govardhan Puja resonates with the teachings of interconnectedness and reverence for the natural world.
How Govardhan Puja is celebrated?
The puja starts with devotees making heaps of cow dung cakes in the form of a hill, which represents Mount Govardhan and decorate it with different colours and festivals.
They also perform a parikrama (moving around the mound) while chanting hymns and mantras.
In other cases, it is celebrated by creating a mountain of food offerings called an Annakut (meaning mountain of food), symbolizing the mountain Krishna lifted, and is a time to honor nature and express gratitude. Devotees prepare and arrange a vast array of vegetarian dishes, sometimes over a hundred, in the shape of a mountain.The offering is made as a thank-you for sustenance, protection, and to honor nature's abundance. The Annakut feast is then distributed as prasad (blessed food) among the devotees. This is also known as 56 bhog or chappan bhog.
Annakut Across India:
Braj (Mathura & Vrindavan): Celebrated with grandeur, including Govardhan parikrama and lakhs of devotees.
Gujarat & Rajasthan: Big Annakut feasts at Swaminarayan temples, where the Chappan Bhog list is described elaborately.
Maharashtra: Temples make Annakut offerings with local foods such as puran poli.
ISKCON International Temples: Annakut is celebrated all over the world, representing Krishna bhakti.
Importance of Annakut Today
Even in the present times, Annakut is representative of:
Sustainability – Utilization of seasonal yield and locally available produce.
Community Engagement – Bringing families, neighbors, and devotees together.
Cultural Preservation – Transmission of traditions to generations to come.
The Spiritual Significance Behind the 56 Bhog
Every meal in the list of Chappan Bhog is not merely food but an expression of love and devotion. From humble dal to sophisticated sweets, each preparation has the sentiment of service (seva). The meaning of Annakut is not extravagance but surrender, demonstrating that all that we relish in life is eventually presented back to the Divine.
Thaal
In all Swaminarayan mandirs, sadhus and devotees then sing thaal - kirtans or devotional hymns composed by the poet paramhansas of Swaminarayan. These kirtans describe the food items, and are about praying to the deities to accept the food. The singing lasts for about an hour, and is followed by a grand arti. Afterwards, devotees do puja and circumambulate the deities and the offered food.[33][self-published source] In some mandirs, arti is performed several times in the day as long as the annakut offerings remain before the deities. In the evening, devotees take portions of the Annakut as prasad, sanctified food, that has been offered to God and is received as his mercy.
In certain mandirs, especially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the murtis are also given a milk bath before being and dressed in elegant clothes and ornaments.
Vishvakarma Puja
Some craftsmen pay reverence to their tools and machinery on the day of Annakut.