Govardhan Puja 2024: Date, Time, Rituals, and Significance of Annakut Puja

Date, Time, Rituals, and Significance of Annakut Puja

Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut Puja, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated to honor Lord Krishna's victory over Lord Indra. This year Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on Saturday, November 2, 2024. This day usually follows Diwali and marks the first day of the lunar month of Kartik on the Hindu calendar.

Govardhan Puja 2024: Date and Time

Story Behind Govardhan Puja

The festival of Govardhan Puja is deeply rooted in a mythological tale from the life of Lord Krishna. According to legend, Lord Krishna saved the villagers of Vrindavan from Lord Indra’s wrath by lifting the mighty Govardhan Hill and sheltering them from torrential rains. Lord Indra, angered by the villagers' decision to stop worshiping him and instead offer prayers to Govardhan Hill, unleashed a storm to punish them. Krishna’s act of holding up the hill demonstrated the importance of nature and humility, reminding people that all offerings and prayers should go to the earth that sustains them.

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Govardhan Puja 2024: Rituals

• The main ritual of Govardhan Puja involves creating an image or replica of Govardhan Hill using materials such as cow dung or clay, which is then decorated with flowers and worshipped. Devotees circle the hill and offer food as part of the Annakut tradition. The primary focus of the puja is offering gratitude for nature’s bounty and seeking protection from natural calamities.
• Devotees sing hymns and recite prayers, remembering Lord Krishna’s divine act and reaffirming their connection with nature and its nurturing power.
• Govardhan Puja is a festival that celebrates nature, gratitude, and the triumph of Lord Krishna over Lord Indra’s pride. It holds special significance across different regions of India, from its association with Annakut in Northern India to Bali Pratipada in Maharashtra. As families come together to perform rituals, offer food, and pray for protection and prosperity, the festival reinforces the essential values of humility, generosity, and devotion.

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Govardhan Puja 2024: Significance

Annakut, meaning "mountain of food," is another name for Govardhan Puja. On this day, devotees prepare a variety of food items, such as wheat, rice, leafy vegetables, and curries, which are offered to Lord Krishna as a gesture of gratitude. This grand feast symbolizes abundance and prosperity and is distributed as prasadam (blessed food) after the offering.

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This year, as we observe Govardhan Puja on November 2, 2024, let’s remember the deeper meanings behind the celebrations and cherish the bonds we share with both the divine and nature.

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