Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut Puja, is a major Hindu festival that is observed on the next day of Diwali. The festival is a celebration of the mythical act of Krishna to uplift the Govardhan hill to save the people of Gokul during the wrath of the God Indra. The festival is observed on 28 October (Pratipada Tithi) of the Kartik month and thus may occur a day before the Diwali festival or on the Gujarati New Year.
This is a sacred day which is marked with Annakut Puja ritual, where people prepare a huge array of vegetarian food so that they can offer the food to Lord Krishna. Such services, together with the name Chhappan Bhog, may consist of cereals such as wheat and rice, pulses, gram flour curries, leafy vegetables and sweets. The well-laid-out food is presented as a symbolic mountain (Annakut) in front of the deity and it represents plenty, piety and gratitude.
Govardhan Puja is represented as a symbol of faith, devotion and divine protection with a greater stress given to the victory of devotion over pride. Families come together, put on rangoli, flowers and lamps (diyas), and Pratahkala (morning) and Sayankala (evening) puja, which is a blessing of prosperity, happiness and wellbeing. The Govardhan Puja Katha and bhajans are also recited by the Devotees, and it gives the atmosphere of a spiritual nature.
In Maharashtra, the same day is referred to as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva, the day when Lord Vishnu in his vamana avatar, took King Bali to Patal Lok. King Bali is said to visit the earth during this day in order to bless those who are devout. Govardhan Puja, which usually falls on the Gujarati New Year, is a spiritual festival mixed up with local festivals, and as such it is a festival marking the divine protection, togetherness, and the richness of the nature.
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