Bali Pratipada or Govardhan Puja (Pooja Annakut) is organized in the month of Kartik, one day after the main Diwali. The day was celebrated by Hindus as Lord Krishna defeated Lord Indra. Sometimes there may be a day difference between Diwali and Govardhan Pooja. People in the order of making cereal food in the form of curry of wheat, rice, gram flour and leafy vegetables, celebrate Govardhan worship by offering Hindu Lord Krishna.
Why is Govardhan Puja being celebrated?
In some places in India like Maharashtra, it is celebrated in the form of Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. It is celebrated in connection with the victory of the demon king Bali Vaman (the incarnation of Lord Vishnu). It is believed that the King Bali was booned by Lord Vaman to be very powerful.
Somewhere on this day, the Shukla side of Kartik’s month is celebrated as Pratipada in New Year’s day as Gujarati.
Govardhan Puja Date and Time
This year, Govardhan Puja would be celebrated on 8th November, 2018.
Govardhan Puja Pratahkal Muhurat = 6:45 AM to 08:57 AM
Govardhan Puja Sayankal Muhurat = 3:32 PM to 5:43 PM
Pratipada Tithi Begins = 9:31 PM on 7/Nov/2018
Pratipada Tithi Ends = 9:07 PM on 8/Nov/2018 (Source: Drikpanchang.com)
Legends of Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja is celebrated in the memories of the history of Govardhan Mountains through which significant life was saved for many people’s life. It is believed that the people of Gokul were also known as Lord Indra as Lord of rain, the worship was used. But the opinion of the people of Lord Krishna Gokul had to change this way. He said that you should worship all of the Annakut hill or Govardhana mountain as it is the real God who nourishes and save your life from harsh conditions by giving you food and shelter.
Therefore, they had started worshiping the mountain that is in place of Lord Indra. Seeing this, Indra got angry and Gokul started getting too much rain. Finally, Lord Krishna saved his life by raising the Govardhan mountain on his little finger and included the people of Gokul under it. In this way pride was defeated by Lord Indra Krishna. Now, the day is celebrated as the Govardhan Puja to offer homage to the Govardhan Mountain. The festival of Govardhan Puja is also being celebrated as Annakut.
The day is also celebrated in Maharashtra as Padva or Bali Pratipada as it is believed that the Demon King defeated Bali and Vaman (Lord Avtar of Lord Vishnu) was pushed by Lord Vishnu to Hades.
How to celebrate Govardhan Puja
The people of Gokul and Mathura celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm and happiness. People have made rounds, also in the form of Govardhan Parikrama (which begins in the Mansi Ganga bathing and worshiping of Mansi Devi, Harideva and Brahma Kunda), there is a special significance of their own which is about eleven silents on the way of Govardhan Parikrama are known in the hill and worship.
People are decorated with cow dung, a pile of food, to make a farm of Govardhan Stari ji and with flowers and worship. Annakut means that people make the variety of indulgence to present Lord Krishna. God’s idols are bathed in milk and are worn with new clothes as well as jewels. Pooja is done through traditional worship, indulgence and arti.
It is celebrated throughout India after decorating the temples of Lord Krishna and organizing a lot of events and worshiping foods are distributed among the people. People are offering offerings and Lord Krishna’s blessings by touching his head to God’s feet.
Importance of Govardhan Puja
People worshiped the Annakut (various types of food) and worshiped the Govardhan mountain through singing and dance. They believe that the mountain, one of them is the real God of the way he offers to live the life provides shelter in serious situation and save his life. There is a tradition of celebrating Govardhan Puja with various customs and great pleasure every year. People worship Lord Krishna on this special day in the celebration of God’s victory on evil power. People worship the Govardhan Mountain in confidence that they will be preserved by this mountain and they will always get the source of living.
People offer bath to their cows and bulls in the morning and they decorate with saffron and garland etc. They offer sweet and delicious food items with kheer, batashe, garala, immense zeal and make a pile of cow dung and worship. They prepared Chappan’s offering of cheapest offerings (means 56 food items) or in order to offer prayers to God during 108 food items.
The Govardhan Mountain can only be described as the shape of peacocks, which is similar to that, Radhakund and Shyama Kunda come in the eyes, Dan valley comes in the neck, Mukharavinda comes in the mouth and in the form of wings of Punchari tail comes back as well. It is believed that the height of this mountain is decreasing day (a seed of mustard daily) due to the curse of Pulastya Muni.
Once, in the true age, Pulastya Muni went to Dronacala (King of Mountains) and requested for the son of Govardhan. The king was very sad and Muni has appealed that he cannot tolerate his son. Finally, in his son circumstances, he was sent with a muni that if he would be put down, he would have to stay there.
On the way Muni put it down, while the nature of the phone is revealed in order to pass through the board of Braj. After coming back he found that he could not move Govardhan from that place. Then he got angry and cursed Govardhan to gradually reduce the size. It was about 64 miles long and 40 miles wide, 16 miles high and now only remains 80 feet.
