Govardhan Puja is also known as the Annakut puja meaning a pile of grains.In this year 2015, Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on November 12 (Thursday).
It is celebrated to commemorate the lifting of Mount Govardhan by lord Krishna. According to a legend in Vishnu Puran, before Lord Krishna was born, Lord Indra, the god of rain, was the chief deity of Vraj. Lord Krishna instigated the people to stop worshiping Indra.
Indra wanted to prove his power over Krishna so he brought about a cloud-burst which flooded the area for many days. People were afraid that the downpour was a result of Lord Indra's wrath. That was when Krishna came forward and lifted Mount Govardhan as an umbrella on the little finger of his right hand so that everyone could take shelter from the rain. Its because of this incident that he got the epithet Govardhandhari.
Since that day Govardhan or Annakut puja is performed with immense passion and eagerness in various states of India such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. On individual level at home people smear their body with oil and take baths in the morning and wear new clothes.Thereafter, Govardhan Puja (Annakoot Puja) is done. Govardhan made of grains is called Annakut. It is worshiped with the offerings of paadya arghyay, gandh, pushp, dhoop, deep, naivedya, aachman, taambool and dakshina respectively.
No comments:
Post a Comment