Govardhan Puja
govardhan puja iast govardhanapūjā also known annakut annakoot meaning “mountain food” hindu festival celebrated first lunar day bright fortnight month kartika fourth day diwali devotee worship govardhan hill prepare offer large variety vegetarian food krishna mark gratitude vaishnava day commemorates incident bhagavata purana krishna lifted govardhan hill provide villager vrindavan shelter torrential rain incident symbolizes god offering protection devotee take singular refuge devotee offer mountain food metaphorically representing govardhan hill god ritual remembrance renew faith taking refuge god festival observed hindu denomination india abroad important festival vaishanava sect pushtimarg sampradaya gaudiya sampradaya swaminarayan sampradaya krishna spent childhood braj place devotee associate many krishna divine heroic exploit childhood friend one significant incident described bhagavata purana involves krishna lifting govardhan hill low hill situated middle braj according bhagavata purana forestdwelling cowherd living close govardhan used celebrate autumn season paying respect indra god rain storm krishna approve since desired villager worship one purna parmatma worship deity stone idol etc indra got angry advice krishna though younger almost everyone city respected everyone due knowledge immense power people gokul agreed krishna advice indra angered upon seeing villager devotion diverted away toward krishna indra decided initiate thunderstorm heavy rain city anger protect people storm krishna lifted govardhan hill little finger provided shelter people cattle city seven day continuous storm seeing people gokul unaffected indra accepted defeat stopped storm day therefore celebrated festival paid respect mount govardhan preparing giriyajna great offering food delicacy mountain krishna assumed form mountain accepted villager offering govardhan since become major pilgrimage site braj devotee krishna day annakut devotee circumambulate hill offer food mountain—and old ritual braj established chaitanya mahaprabhu circumambulation consists elevenmile trek dotted along way several shrine devotee place flower offering others may circumambulate mountain offering dandavats full body prostration take ten twelve day family create image govardhan hill cow dung adorning miniature cow figure well grass twig representing tree greenery day leading annakut fiftysix food item chappan bhog typically prepared offered evening member cowherding caste officiates ritual circling hill cow bull followed family village partake sanctified food offering food hill festival often draw large crowd including chaube brahmin mathura annakut celebrated fourth day diwali therefore ritual surrounding annakut closely linked ritual five day diwali first three day diwali day prayer sanctify wealth invite greater wealth devotee life annakut day day offering gratitude krishna beneficence govardhan puja principal ritual performed annakut although text treat govardhan puja annakut synonymous govardhan puja one segment daylong annakut festival many variant govardhan puja performed one variant ritual krishna made cow dung horizontal position completing structure decorated earthern lamp deepak diya seenkh material used broom chaff candle worshipping structure god fed devotee woman fast prayer also made govardhan vast array vegetarian food traditionally arranged tier step front deity usually sweet placed nearest deity tier descend food dal vegetable pulse fried savory food arranged mound cooked grain symbolic mount govardhan placed center swaminarayan shikharbaddh mandirs sadhu begin arrange annakut morning finish noon many hindu throughout world celebrate annakut part diwali frequently pair annakut celebration govardhan puja performed fourth day diwali celebration hindu also view annakut time transmit religious cultural value child ask forgiveness god express devotion towards god annakut celebrated diyas small oil lamp rangoli decorative art ground made colored rice colored sand andor flower petal many distinct food item sometimes numbering hundred thousand offered deity annakut example kilogram food offered krishna iskcon temple mysore india although annakut often associated krishna deity also focal point shree mahalakshmi mandir mumbai india sweet food item offered mataji distributed prasad devotee annakut festival also celebrated annually approximately bap mandirs center throughout world daylong event festival swaminarayan devotee prepare offer large variety vegetarian food hindu deity including swaminarayan krishna among others annakut festival bap mandirs often largest festival year visitor learn hinduism offer prayer new year partake prasad sanctified food engage devotional activity devotee bap swaminarayan mandir leicester england organizes annakut festival every year describes annakut forum spiritual aspirant reaffirm appreciation role god play life gathering also represent opportunity reaffirm sense community bap swaminarayan mandir neasden england vegetarian dish assembled offered deity annakut celebration bap swaminarayan mandir neasden england guinness world record largest annakut ever held october diwali bap atladra mandir gujarat vegetarian dish swaminarayan mandirs sadhu devotee sing thaal kirtans devotional hymn composed poet paramhansas swaminarayan kirtans describe food item praying deity accept food singing last hour followed grand arti afterwards devotee puja circumambulate deity offered food mandirs arti performed several time day long annakut offering remain deity evening devotee take portion annakut prasad sanctified food offered god received mercy certain mandirs especially mathura nathadwara murtis also given milk bath dressed elegant clothes ornament craftsman pay reverence tool machinery day annakut