Bali Pratipada or Govardhan Puja (Annakut Puja) is held a day after the main Diwali in the month of Kartik. The day is celebrated by the Hindus as Lord Krishna had defeated the God Indra. Sometimes there might be a day gap between Diwali and Govardhan Puja. People celebrate Govardhan Puja by making food of cereals such as wheat, rice, curry of gram flour and leafy vegetables in order to offer to the Hindu Lord Krishna.
Govardhan Puja 2019
Govardhan Puja was celebrated on Monday, 28th October 2019 all over India.
Celebrated on the next day of Deepawali, Govardhan Puja is fervently observed at Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
The Govardhan Mountain, which is also located at Mathura, was circumambulated by eager devotees chanting “Radhe-Radhe”. Not only Indians but also a large number of foreigners from different countries also participated in religious customs.
Almost every temple in Mathura had organized some religious programs on the occasion of the Annakut festival.
Chhattisgarh state’s Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel was whipped on his right hand at least five times, on the occasion of Govardhan Puja. He was attending a Govardhan Puja celebration at Janjgiri in Durg District. It is an old custom manifested in the belief that getting whipped on the occasion of Govardhan Puja brings prosperity and happiness in one’s life.
Why Govardhan Puja is being celebrated
At some places in India such as Maharashtra it is celebrated as the Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. It is celebrated in regards to the victory of Vamana (incarnation of the Lord Vishnu) over demon King Bali. It is considered that King Bali was boon by the Lord Vamana to be very powerful.
Somewhere this day is celebrated as the New Year day by Gujarati in the Shukla Paksha Pratipada of the month of Kartik.
Legends of Govardhan Puja
Govardhan puja is celebrated to commemorate the history of Govardhan Parbat through which the lives of many people were saved from the critical rain. It is considered that the people of Gokul were used to worshipping God Indra, also known as God of rain. But Lord Krishna had to change such types of opinions of the people of Gokul. He told us that you should all worship the Annakut hill or Govardhan Parbat as he is the real God who is nurturing and saving your lives from drastic conditions by giving you food and shelter.
Hence, they had started worshipping that mountain in the place of God Indra. By seeing this, Indra became angry and started raining too much in the Gokul. Finally, Lord Krishna had saved their lives by lifting the Govardhan hill at his little finger and covered the people of Gokul under it. In this way, proud Indra had defeated by Lord Krishna. Now, the day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja to offer the homage to the Govardhan Parbat. Govardhan puja festival is also being celebrated as the Annakut.
The day is also celebrated as Padva or Bali Pratipada in Maharashtra as it is considered that demon King Bali was defeated and pushed to Patal Loka by the Lord Vishnu in the form of Vamana (incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
How to celebrate Annakut or Govardhan Puja
People of Gokul and Mathura celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm and pleasure. People make round, also known as Parikrama (which starts from the bath in the Manasi Ganga and puja of Manasi Devi, Harideva and Brahma Kunda. There are approximately eleven Silas on the way of Govardhana Parikrama which has their own special significance) of the Govardhan hill and offers Puja.
People make a form of Govardhan Dhari Ji through the heap of cow dung, a mountain of food and adorn it with the flowers and worship. The mean of Annakut is, people make a variety of Bhog to present to Lord Krishna. Idols of God are bathed in the milk and clothed with new clothes as well as jewelry. Then the worship is performed through traditional prayers, Bhog, and aarti.
It is celebrated all over India by decorating the temples of Lord Krishna and organizing a lot of events and after puja foods are distributed among the people. People get blessings of Lord Krishna by having prasad and touching their heads to the feet of God.
Significance of Govardhan Puja
People offer puja to the Govardhan Mountain by preparing Annakut (various types of food) and through the singing and dancing. They consider that the mountain is the real God of them as he provides the way to live life, provides shelter in severe conditions and save their life. There are various customs and traditions of celebrating Govardhan puja every year with great pleasure.
People worship Lord Krishna on this special day to commemorate the victory of God over the evil power. People worship Govardhan Mountain in the belief that they would be protected by this mountain ever and they would always get the source of living.
People offer bath to their cow and bulls in the morning and decorate with the saffron and garlands etc. They make cow dung heap and worship by offering Kheer, Batashe, garland, sweet and delicious foods with immense enthusiasm. They prepare Naivedya of the Chappan Bhog (means 56 food items) or 108 food items in order to offer to lord during puja.
Govardhana Parbat is just like peacock shape which can be described as; Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda make the eyes, Dan Ghati makes the neck, Mukharavinda makes the mouth and Punchari makes back as well as tail feathers. It is considered that the height of this mountain is decreasing day by day (a seed of mustard daily) because of the curse of Pulastya Muni.
Once, in the Satya Yuga, the Pulastya Muni went to the Dronacala (the king of mountains) and requested for his son named Govardhana. The king was very depressed and appealed the Muni that he cannot bear the disconnection from his son. Finally, his son was sent with Muni under the circumstances that if he would put down, he would stay there.
On the way, the Muni had put him down while passing through the Braja Mandala in order to reply the nature’s call. After coming back he found he cannot move the Govardhana from that place. Then he got angry and cursed the Govardhana to get reduce in size slowly. It was around 64 miles long and 40 miles wide, 16 miles high and now remains only of 80 ft.