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Govardhan Puja and the festival of Annakoot, celebrated the day after Diwali, have a very important place in Indian culture, eternal tradition and our agricultural life. This festival is a sacred occasion to express gratitude towards nature, serve cows and remember the deeds of Lord Krishna. On this day, Lord Govardhan is worshiped in temples and homes across the country and Chhappan Bhog is offered, which is called ‘Annakoot’. On this holy festival of Govardhan Puja, there is a special tradition of worshiping Maa Annapurna, the goddess of food and mother of the world. According to religious beliefs, in the house where Mother Annapurna and Lord Shri Krishna are worshiped as per the rituals on the day of Govardhan Puja, the stock of food and money never decreases and there remains happiness, prosperity and blessings in the family throughout the year.
The story of Govardhan Puja is linked to the arrogance of Lord Shri Krishna and Devraj Indra, when Lord Krishna saved the lives of the people of Braj by lifting Govardhan Mountain on his little finger and shattered Indra’s pride. Since then the tradition of worshiping nature started, because Govardhan Mountain and nature are the basis of our life. When Annakut Bhog is prepared on this day, it includes different types of grains, green vegetables, pulses and new rice. It symbolizes that whatever nature has given us to eat is God’s offering. On this day, a shape of Govardhan mountain is made in the houses with cow dung and it is revolved around it and the cows are worshiped and fed with jaggery and green fodder. In this entire process, the grace of Mother Annapurna is considered paramount, because with her blessings we get food and nutrition both the times.
According to Hindu religious texts, Mother Annapurna is considered the goddess of nutrition and kitchen, who is a form of Mother Parvati, the better half of Lord Shiva. On the day of Govardhan Puja, special cleaning of the kitchen is done by women, the stove or gas is worshiped and the first bhog is dedicated to Mother Annapurna. It is believed that a family which respects food, keeps the kitchen sacred and meditates on Goddess Annapurna on the day of Govardhan, can never face hunger or poverty in its house. By the grace of Annapurna Devi, the coffers of the house always remain full and there is mutual love and harmony among the family members. In today’s modern era where people waste food, this festival teaches us that every grain of food is a blessing from God and it is our duty to respect it.
On the day of Govardhan Puja, take bath in the morning, wear clean clothes and make a beautiful shape of Govardhan Mountain with cow dung in the courtyard or main entrance of your house. After this, offer incense, lamp, naivedya, kheel, batashe and annakoot as prasad there. During the puja, remember Lord Krishna and Mother Annapurna and chant their mantras. Light a lamp of cow ghee while circumambulating Govardhan Mountain in the evening. First of all, offer pure Satvik food prepared in your home kitchen and then take Prasad with the entire family. If we follow these ancient traditions with full devotion and rules, then negativity is removed from our life and with the grace of Mother Annapurna and Govardhan Maharaj, happiness, peace, glory and prosperity always reside in our family.