Govardhan Puja the auspicious festival also known as Annakoot or Annakut is like a crowned jewel in the culture and tradition of India’s throne which is celebrated on the fourth day of the five-day long Diwali celebration. Govardhan Puja is observed on the Pratipada tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik which is generally the next day of Diwali. But this year as the Amavasya Tithi had extended to the next day of Diwali, thus Govardhan Puja or Annakoot is being celebrated a day later. This day not only is about the worship of the divine but also about worship and thankfulness to nature, to relationships.
Why is Govardhan Puja celebrated?
The childhood of Shri Krishna was spent in the scenic beauty of Braj, and as per the Hindu scriptures the origin of Govardhan Puja goes back to the childhood of Shri Krishna. As per the popular saga:
- The villagers and folk people of Vrindavan considered Lord Indra the most worshipped deity as Lord Indra is the God of rain, and rain benefitted their crops, fields, their cow herds and cattle. They showered him with huge amount of sweets, fruits and coins so that he would keep blessing the villagers.
- When Lord Krishna saw that the villagers were more than needed dependent on Lord Indra, he advised them that instead of showering him with prayers, sweets etc, the villagers should pray and thank the Govardhan Parvat or the Govardhan hills as it provided them with shelter, cattle food, water and clean air.
- On seeing that Lord Indra was no more the most revered deity, he got very angry and showed his wrath by making it rain cats and dogs, thunderstorms were happening, almost everything had started drowning.
- People and cattle had nowhere to go as even their houses had been blown away by thunderstorm. All the villagers prayed and cried out to Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna then picked up and lifted the Govardhan Hill on his little finger or his pinki finger. He held it up for many days till Lord Indra realised that he was being really arrogant and committed an error in judgement and thus yielded to Lord Krishna’s stature.
- It is from that time that people started celebrating Govardhan Puja to pay tribute to the mighty Govardhan Parvat, to the cosmos and to nature.
This day reminds us that nature is the biggest superpower and we all need to understand that we need to respect nature in all its glory. As one source puts it: “At its core, Govardhan Puja is a celebration of faith, humility, and gratitude. It teaches that we must not take nature for granted.”
Importance and significance of Govardhan Puja
- Devotion and surrender – The story shows that turning in devotion to the divine, here represented by Krishna, brings protection and grace. Worship of the hill (Govardhan) is symbolic of seeking the divine in the natural world. The Times of India
- Nature and ecology – The festival underlines respect for the environment (the hill, the land, the cows). In many homes one builds a little hillock of cow dung or clay and decorates it, acknowledging the role of soil, grass, cattle and nature in sustaining life. Republic World
- Food and abundance – One of the features of Govardhan Puja is the “Annakut” (literally ‘mountain of food’) where many food items are prepared and offered to Krishna/Hill, as thanksgiving for the bounty of nature and the support of community.
- Community, cattle and farms – Cows are worshipped; cattle are fed; fields and farms are respected. It binds rural and agrarian life to the spiritual ritual.
- Symbol of victory of humility over ego – The story also has a moral: Indra’s ego vs. Krishna’s humble service. The festival reminds us that arrogance (even of deities) can falter, and humility backed by genuine care (of people and nature) wins.
How to celebrate Govardhan Puja
- Wake up early and take a bath, then clean your house and worship place. Prepare a symbolic Govardhan Parvat or Govardhan hill.
- Lord Krishna should be worshipped on this day by performing arti and offering fruits and sweets.
- Many followers and worshippers have also been offering chappan bhog which is 56 food items to Lord Krishna.
- As Govardhan Parvat was the main area in Braj and Vrindava were cattle used to dees grass, thus the cattle especially cows are a main part of this Govardhan Puja.
- Thus worshipping and offering food to cows on this day is considered very auspicious.
- Many who visit the Govardhan hill site also perform parikrama on this day of the parvat.
- Who are not able to visit the real site, do perform parikarama of their symbolic Govardhan Parvat.
- Many abstain from non-veg and oily spicy food. It is also considered very inauspicious to cut trees on this day or to hurt animals.
Shubh Muhurat and Date for Govardhan Puja 2025
- The Pratipada Tithi of Kartik Shukla will begin on 21st of October 2025 at around 5:54 PM and will end on 22nd of October 2025 at around 8:16 PM.
- Thus Govardhan Puja or Annakoot will be celebrated on Wednesday, the 22nd of October 2025.
- Shubh Puja Muhurat
- Pratahkaal (morning): around 06:26 AM to 08:42 AM
- Sayankaala (afternoon/evening): around 03:29 PM to 05:44 PM
As the shubh puja muhurat is determined by the new moon or lunar placement it is very significant to perform the puja on the given shubh puja muhurat to obtain the most benefits. If the Pratipada tithi is valid during sunrise and the selected muhurat, the rituals are considered more potent.
Conclusion
Govardhan Puja is not just another festival—it is a beautiful time to reminisce and get reminded of our bond and relation to the divinity and with nature. On this day everyone should show their gratitude to nature and thankk nature for our existence.
This day reminds us that nature is the supreme superpower. If we cherish nature, it will cherish us in return and also provide us with everything in abundance. This day also makes us believe that faith and devotion in the divinity brings us closer to our community, to ourselves and to the universe.