Govardhan Puja 2023…

Govardhan Puja 2023: Here’s all you need to know about Govardhan puja and how it came to be celebrated a day after Diwali.

Govardhan Puja 2023: The festival of lights is around the corner. Every year, Diwali is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur all over the country. From lighting the streets in colours, to decking up in new clothes and decorating the homes in colours and lights, people welcome Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera into their homes during Diwali. Diwali festivities start with the celebrations of Dhanteras. A day before Diwali, Chhoti Diwali is celebrated. However, for this year, Chhoti Diwali and Diwali falls on the same day. A day after Diwali, Govardhan Puja is celebrated. Diwali is one of the most-awaited festivals of the country. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on November 12.

On the Pratipada date of Shukla Paksha of the month of Kartik, Govardhan Puja is observed. A Govardhan Parvat is made with cow dung outside the entrance of the house, and people worship cows on this day. For centuries, the tradition of celebrating Govardhan Puja a day after Diwali has been going on. There is a very interesting story why Govardhan Puja came to be celebrated.

According to Hindu mythology, a worship programme and its preparations were going on in Brij. When Lord Krishna asked his mother Yashoda about the worship programme, she told him that the preparations of worshiping Lord Indra Dev are going on.

To this, Lord Krishna asked, why should they worship him. Yashoda replied that Indra Dev causes rain and it gets fodder for the cows, hence he is being worshipped. To this, Lord Krishna questioned that instead of Lord Indra, the Govardhan mountain should be worshipped as the cows graze there. He further added that it is Indra Dev’s responsibility to cause rain.

Then, the people of Brij started to worship the Govardhan mountain. To this, Indra Dev got angry and caused so much rain that it led to floods. But, to break his ego, Lod Krishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain with his single finger and let the residents of Brij take shelter under it. Then Indra Dev understood his mistake and stopped the rain. Since then, Govardhan Puja came to be celebrated.

Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut, is observed as the day Krishna was victorious over Indra. It falls on the fourth day of Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights) which is in the month of Kartik.

Celebration\ Observance in govardhan pouja 2023

Govardhan Puja is celebrated in different ways as part of the Diwali festival. Men give gifts to their wives, the New Year, Vikram Samvat, starts this day, and the worship of tools one uses daily. Government and businesses are open as it is a restricted holiday.

Govardhan Pooja/Puja (Tuesday, November 14, 2023 ) is one of the many Hindu festivals of India. This unique festival is also called Annakut or Annakoot. It is celebrated in different parts of India, in various ways. Out of that, the Braj Bhumi area (in Uttar Pradesh, India), which includes Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Gokul, and Barsana, celebrate Govardhan Pooja with fervour as all these places are connected to Lord Krishna. This is the day of thanksgiving to Lord Krishna, the Govardhan Hill and Godhan (Cow). The devotees, especially the Vaishnava sect, prepare and offer a large variety of delicious vegetarian food to Govardhan Hill, a representation of the divinity of Lord Krishna as a sign of thanksgiving. 

So, on the day of Govardhan Pooja, Lord Krishna and nature are worshipped and it is said that those who worship the Govardhan Hill (Giri) and Lord Krishna’s favourite, Cows, on this day, get the blessings of Lord Krishna. 

In the state of Maharashtra this day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva, which has the story of Lord Vishnu’s Vamana avatar and King Bali. The day of Shri Krishna Govardhan puja also coincides with Gujarati New Year. 

Govardhan Pooja is celebrated on the first day of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November). Generally Govardhan Pooja falls on the next day after Diwali and is celebrated as to commemorate the day when Lord Krishna chastised Lord Indra, the King of Heaven.

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE GOVARDHAN PUJA? SIGNIFICANCE OF GOVARDHAN PUJA

Since Diwali is a 5 days celebration, Krishna Govardhan Puja falls on the 4th day of Diwali. The initial days of Diwali are spent by devotees invoking the divine to bless with wealth, prosperity and abundance, the day of Diwali Govardhan puja allows devotees to offer gratitude.

The Bhagavata Purana narrates that Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill to save the villagers of Vrindavan from the torrential rains showered by Lord Indra.

The Govardhan Hill served as a shelter for all the residents of Vrindavan. Lord Krishna is also called Giridhari because of this incidence of Him lifting the Govardhan Hill, which is known as Giriraj (King of Hills). The incident indicates how the Lord protects all of His devotees who surrender and take singular refuge in Him, which is an important sign of Govardhan Puja. It is believed that Govardhan Puja is celebrated when the incidence of Lord Krishna lifts the Govardhan Hill took place. The festival is observed predominantly by the Vallabh Community (Pushtimarg), the Gaudiya Sampradaya of Chaitanya, and the Swaminarayan community.

Rudraksha Ratna…

Govardhan Puja Date 2023: What is the time of Govardhan Puja?

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat – 06:14 AM to 08:35 AM 
Duration – 02 Hours 21 Mins 
Dyuta Krida on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 
Pratipada Tithi Begins – 02:56 PM on Nov 13, 2023 
Pratipada Tithi Ends – 02:36 PM on Nov 14, 2023

Condition of Diwali Govardhan Puja Muhurat – As per ancient Hindu texts, if the Moon rises or Moon is seen in the sky, during the stipulated Govardhan Puja Shubh Muhurat time span, then the Govardhan Pooja will have to be performed on the next day.

Govardhan Puja Mantra in Sanskrit that can be chanted throughout the auspicious day is:

‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’

Hare Krishna mantra is a popular mantra which is chanted throughout the day on Krishna Govardhan puja.

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