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Lord Krishna
Govardhan Puja commemorates the day young Lord Krishna lifted the mighty Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shelter the people and cattle of Vrindavan from the devastating rains unleashed by an angered Indra. The people of Vraja had, at Krishna's urging, stopped their annual Indra Yagna and instead worshipped Govardhan Hill as the true provider of grass, water, and sustenance. Humbled, Indra acknowledged Krishna's supremacy and sought forgiveness.
Govardhan Puja teaches devotion to nature and self-reliance over ritualistic appeasement. Krishna showed that the hill, cows, and the natural environment that directly sustained the community deserved worship more than a distant deity demanding sacrifice. It is the fourth day of the Diwali festival, also known as Annakut or Padwa in different regions.
Prepare a mountain of food (Annakut) — rice, dal, vegetables, sweets, and savouries — arranged in the shape of Govardhan Hill, and offer it to Lord Krishna. Worship cows and decorate them with garlands and colours. Some communities make cow-dung replicas of Govardhan Hill and circumambulate them. Visit temples for darshan of the Annakut display.
Govardhan Puja is performed on the day after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Pratipada). The puja is done in the morning after sunrise, ideally during Pratahkaal. Annakut offering is arranged before noon.
On this auspicious Kartik Shukla Pratipada, I worship Lord Govardhan and Lord Krishna, who lifted the Govardhan hill to protect the people of Vraja from the wrath of Indra. May He bestow abundance, protection, and devotion upon my family.
Make a small hill (Govardhan) from cow dung in the courtyard or puja area. Decorate it with flowers, grass, and small plants. Place a Krishna idol on top with one hand raised (as if lifting the mountain).
Worship the cow by applying tilak of kumkum and haldi, offering garlands, and feeding her fresh green fodder and jaggery. The cow represents Kamadhenu and is central to this festival.
Hold water and akshat in the right hand. State your name, gotra, the date (Kartik Shukla Pratipada), and the purpose of the Govardhan puja. Release the water.
Offer flowers, akshat, kumkum, incense, and lamp to the Govardhan hill. Then perform 7 parikramas (circumambulations) around the Govardhan hill, chanting Krishna mantras.
Govardhan Dharan Mantra
गोवर्धन धराधार गोकुलत्राणकारक। विष्णुबाहु कृतारम्भ लक्ष्मीकान्त नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Arrange 56 types of food items (Chhappan Bhog) before the Krishna idol and Govardhan hill. This includes sweets, savories, fruits, dry fruits, rice, dal, vegetables, and breads. Offer with devotion and recite the bhog mantra.
Perform aarti of Lord Krishna and Govardhan with ghee lamp and camphor. Sing "Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki" or other Krishna bhajans. Ring the bell while performing aarti.
Distribute the annakut prasad to all family members and neighbours. Share the food with devotion — this is considered a key act of merit on Govardhan Puja day.
Govardhan Dharan Mantra
गोवर्धन धराधार गोकुलत्राणकारक। विष्णुबाहु कृतारम्भ लक्ष्मीकान्त नमोऽस्तु ते॥
govardhana dharādhāra gokulatrāṇakāraka | viṣṇubāhu kṛtārambha lakṣmīkānta namo'stu te ||
O Govardhan, upholder of the earth, protector of Gokula! O Lord whose arms are those of Vishnu, beloved of Lakshmi — I bow to you.
Krishna Mool Mantra
ॐ कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने। प्रणतः क्लेशनाशाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः॥
oṃ kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya haraye paramātmane | praṇataḥ kleśanāśāya govindāya namo namaḥ ||
Om, salutations to Krishna, son of Vasudeva, Hari, the Supreme Soul. I bow to Govinda, the destroyer of all afflictions.
108x Japa CountGovardhan Stuti
गोवर्धनो जयत्येष शैलराजो गिरां पतिः। कृष्णेन लीलया यस्तु धृतः करतले यथा॥
govardhano jayatyeṣa śailarājo girāṃ patiḥ | kṛṣṇena līlayā yastu dhṛtaḥ karatale yathā ||
Victory to Govardhan, the king of mountains, lord of speech, who was playfully held on the palm of Lord Krishna.
Chhappan Bhog (56 varieties of food) is the traditional offering, including peda, ladoo, kheer, puri, sabzi, rice, fruits, dry fruits, and various sweets. At minimum, offer fresh milk-based sweets, butter, and fruits.
Govardhan Puja bestows the blessings of Lord Krishna, protection from natural calamities, abundance of food and wealth, welfare of cattle and family, and deepens devotion to the Lord.