Govardhan Puja (Annakut)

Sri Govardhan / Sri Krishna (Govardhan-dhari)

Gaudiya Vaishnava

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Govardhan Puja — the day after Deepawali — celebrates Sri Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter Vrindavan from Indra's storm. Gaudiya Vaishnavas build a Govardhan-hill at home and offer Annakut (a mountain of 56 varieties of food) to Krishna and the sacred hill itself.

Dates 2026–2027

November 10, 2026October 29, 2027

Mantra

Govardhana-dhara prabho gokuleshvara / Govinda go-brahmana-priya jaya jaya he

Sri Govardhana Pranama

O Lord who lifted Govardhan, Lord of Gokula, beloved of cows and brahmanas — Govinda, all glories to You.

How to recite

Build a small Govardhan-hill at home from cow dung, rice or sweets; place a Govardhana-shila or Krishna-deity at its peak; offer Annakut (a mountain of 56 varieties of cooked food) and perform the parikrama (circumambulation) seven times — once for each day Krishna held the hill aloft.

Benefits

Govardhan Puja commemorates Sri Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill on His little finger for seven days to shelter the people of Vrindavan from Indra's wrath. It teaches that bhakti to Krishna and the worship of nature (cows, brahmanas, Govardhan) far exceed the worship of even the king of the devas.

✦ Special Note

This is a day of joyful feasting, not fasting. Cook dozens of dishes; offer them in front of a Govardhana-shila or a homemade Govardhan-hill (cow-dung, rice or sweets); perform 7 parikramas; share the prasad with family and neighbours.

Foods Allowed

Annakut — 56 varieties of cooked offerings (chhappan-bhog)Rice, dal, sabzi, kheer, sweets — full grain feastAll dairy preparationsSeasonal fruits and vegetablesGovardhana-shila prasadam

Foods to Avoid

Meat, fish, eggsAlcohol and intoxicantsOnion and garlic in the offering

Meal Idea

Annakut — a grand vegetarian feast of dozens of dishes built into a hill, offered to Krishna, then shared as Govardhan-prasad with the entire community.

🪔 Aarti

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

आरती कुंज बिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥ गले में बैजंती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला । श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला ॥ गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली । लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक, ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की ॥ कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसे, देवता दरसन को तरसे । गगन सों सुमन राशि बरसे, बाजे मुरचंग, मधुर मृदंग, ग्वालिन संग, अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की ॥ जहां ते प्रगट भई गंगा, कलुष कली हारिणि श्री गंगा । स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरे अघ कीच, चरण छवि श्री बनवारी की ॥ चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेणु, बज रही वृंदावन बेणु । चहुं दिसि गोपी ग्वाल धेनु, हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद, टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की ॥

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