2015 Govardhan Puja, Annakut Puja

Most of the time Govardhan Puja day falls next day after Diwali Puja and it is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna beaten God Indra. Sometimes there might be one day gap among Diwali and Govardhan Puja. 

In sacred texts, Govardhan Puja celebrations are suggested during Pratipada Tithi of Kartik month. Depending on starting time of Pratipada, Govardhan Puja day might fall one day before on Amavasya day on Hindu calendar. 

Gowardhan Puja is also famous as Annakut Puja. On this day food made of cereals like wheat, rice, curry made of gram flour and leafy vegetables is cooked and offered to Lord Krishna. This festival celebrate in all odia People and wear new dress.  

In Maharashtra the same day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. The day commemorates victory of Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, over King Bali and subsequent pushing of Bali to Patal Lok (the underworld). It is believed that owing to boon given by Lord Vamana, Asura King Bali visits the Prithvi Lok from the Patala Lok on this day.

Most of the time Govardhan Puja day coincides with Gujarati New Year day, which is renowned on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of Kartik month. Depending on opening time of Pratipada Tithi, Govardhan Puja revelry could be done one day before Gujarati New Year day. 

Govardhan Puja 2015 - November 12 (Thursday)

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.