The Festival of Govardhan Hill
Govardhan Puja (also known as Annakut) is celebrated the day after Diwali to honor the sacred Govardhan Hill, which Lord Krishna lifted on his little finger to protect the people of Braj from the wrath of Lord Indra. This festival celebrates the supremacy of devotion and the divine protection of the Lord.
Annakut - Mountain of Food
The highlight of Govardhan Puja is the Annakut offering, where devotees prepare and offer thousands of food items to Govardhan Hill, representing the mountain of food that the residents of Braj originally prepared for Lord Indra but was redirected to Govardhan by Krishna.
At Govardhan, devotees create elaborate displays of food offerings at various temples, especially at the Daan Ghati Temple and the Jatipura temples. The sight of thousands of food items arranged in the form of a mountain is spectacular.
Govardhan Parikrama
On this day, lakhs of devotees perform the 21-km Govardhan Parikrama (circumambulation) barefoot. The parikrama route is lined with food stalls, kirtan groups, and devotees offering prayers at every sacred spot.
- Grand Annakut offerings at all Govardhan temples
- Special Govardhan Parikrama with millions of devotees
- Elaborate food displays at Daan Ghati and Jatipura
- Night-long kirtan sessions and aarti
- Traditional cow puja ceremonies