Krishna · Krishna, Govardhan Parvat
Govardhan Puja
The day after Diwali, when a mountain of food is offered to Krishna and the hill that sheltered Vraj.
Also known as: Annakut, Annakoot
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the first day (Pratipada) of the bright fortnight of Kartik, the day after the Diwali new-moon night. The day is chosen by the Pratipada tithi in the morning part of the day.
About Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja is the fourth day of the Diwali season. Households in the north make a small hill or a reclining human figure out of cow dung, decorate it with flowers and lamps, and worship it as Govardhan, the sacred hill near Mathura in the Braj region.
The same day is called Annakut, the heap of grain. Temples prepare dozens of dishes, from rice and kadhi to sweets and breads, and arrange them before the deity in the shape of a mountain. The food is then shared as prasad with everyone who comes.
Significance
The festival expresses gratitude to nature for what it gives: the hill, the pasture, the cattle and the harvest. It teaches that a community is sustained by the land and animals around it, and that humility before such gifts matters more than show.
In devotional traditions, especially the Vaishnava ones, it also celebrates Krishna's protection of those who take refuge in him. The abundance of food on this day is a reminder to share it, and many temples feed large crowds.
Govardhan and Annakut worship
- 1Rise early, bathe, and clean the courtyard or the place where the figure will be made.
- 2Shape Govardhan from fresh cow dung, often as a figure lying down, with a navel, eyes and a small hill on top. Decorate it with flowers, grains and small clay lamps.
- 3Place an image of Krishna and the cattle-shed tools beside it, light a lamp and offer water, roli, rice, flowers and incense.
- 4Offer a large spread of cooked food and sweets, traditionally fifty-six items in many homes and temples, arranged as a heap before the deity.
- 5Sing the aarti of Krishna and Govardhan, and chant bhajans or read the Govardhan-lifting episode from the Bhagavata.
- 6Walk around the figure seven times while pouring water from a small pot, and offer prayers for the family and cattle.
- 7Honour cows and bullocks by bathing, decorating and feeding them on this day.
- 8Share the food as prasad with family, neighbours and visitors.
The story
The Bhagavata Purana tells that the people of Vraj used to hold a yearly offering to Indra, the king of the gods, for rain. The young Krishna asked why they should not honour the hill that fed their cows and gave them shelter, rather than a distant god.
When the villagers followed his advice, Indra was angered and sent a storm of rain over Vraj for days. Krishna lifted Govardhan hill on the little finger of his left hand and held it like an umbrella, and the people and cattle took shelter beneath it. Indra finally recognised his error and bowed to Krishna.
What to do
- ✓Make the Govardhan figure from clean, fresh cow dung if available.
- ✓Offer a wide variety of freshly cooked vegetarian food.
- ✓Care for cows and cattle and feed them on this day.
- ✓Share the prasad with neighbours and the needy.
- ✓Walk around the figure with devotion and a calm mind.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not offer stale or non-vegetarian food in the bhog.
- ✕Do not waste the food laid out for the deity.
- ✕Avoid harsh behaviour towards animals on this day.
- ✕Do not skip the offering to the cattle if you keep any.
- ✕Avoid arguments and loud quarrels in the household.
Around the country
- Braj (Mathura, Vrindavan): devotees walk the 21 km Govardhan parikrama, and temples hold grand Annakut darshan.
- Gujarat: the day is the start of the new year (Bestu Varas), when people exchange greetings and visit temples.
- Maharashtra: it is observed as Bali Pratipada or Padva, with greetings between husbands and wives and the memory of King Bali.
- Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh: Annakut feasts are held in Vaishnava temples, such as Nathdwara, with mountains of rice and sweets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Govardhan Puja always the day after Diwali?
Usually, yes, because it follows the new-moon night. But it is fixed by the Pratipada tithi, so when the tithi begins late or the Amavasya spans two days, it can shift by a day or fall two days after.
What does Annakut mean?
"Anna" means grain or food and "kut" means a heap or peak. It refers to the mountain of food offered to the deity.
Why is cow dung used for Govardhan?
In rural tradition cow dung is regarded as pure and is an everyday material of the household, so it is used to represent the hill. People without cattle often use a picture or a small mound of clay instead.