Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most important festival of Hindus. It is celebrated all across the country with great excitement. Govardhan Puja is the festival that is celebrated on the fourth day of the Diwali. On this auspicious day, Lord Govardhan Parvat is worshipped. This day is marked as the day of farmers and cattle owners. These people show devotion for their cattle, farms, Plough and other tools that are used by them through their prayers. They dress their cattle with paper and flower garlands. The logic behind doing all this ensures greater yield to the farmers all over the year and hence results in joy and happiness in their homes.
Celebrations of Govardhan Puja
There are many customs and tradition associated with festival. This day is marked as the day when Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the God of rain as he was very proud of himself. To bring him to the right path, Lord Krishna told the people of Vrindavan to stop worshipping Indra and start following Govardhan Hill. He also taught people that worshipping of God and Goddess will never lower their burdens of bad deeds; in fact they must perform their duties very well in order to achieve happiness and prosperity. Govardhan Puja is also known as ‘Annakut’ which means a heap of grain that symbolizes Govardhan Mountain. People decorate this mountain with flowers. It is believed that this mountain is lifted up by Lord Krishna to save them from a range of Indra. The puja is done with great passion and enthusiasm especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana. Religious people do not sleep for the whole night and they prepare various dishes that is known as bhog as an offer to Lord Krishna. At various places, different types of ‘prasad’ is offered in temples.