Govardhan Annakut 2024: Date, Rituals, Bhog and Significance of worshipping Govardhan Hill

Govardhan Puja is considered an auspicious festival which is purely dedicated to worship Lord Krishna and Govardhan hill. This day is also celebrated as Annakut or Annakoot. This day is celebrated in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Rajashtan with immense devotion. Devotees seek blessings of Lord Krishna by offering him prayers and showing their gratitude. This year, Annakut or Govardhan Puja is being performed on Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik i.e., November 2, 2024.
Govardhan Annakut 2024: Significance
Govardhan puja has a great religious significance among Hindus. This day is celebrated to honor and worship Lord Krishna and Govardhan Parbat or hill as he saved a large number of people or villagers. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Krishna over Indra. On this auspicious day, all the Krishna temples are decorated with flowers, lights and diyas and they celebrate this day by offering prayer to Lord Krishna and show their gratitude.
Govardhan Annakut 2024: Story
According to the Hindu Scripture, Bhagavata Purana, it is believed that people of Gokul used to worship Lord Indra, the god of rain but one day Lord Krishna asked them not to worship lord Indra and perform puja to Govardhan hill, which was full of resources. All the villagers started worshipping mountain Govardhan by offering Annakoot and this act made Indra angry, who did not like this that they stopped worshipping him and started honoring Govardhan hill so he decided to take revenge by torrential rains. Rain continued for days as it did not stop and there was flood everywhere then Lord Krishna lifted the whole Govardhan Mountain with his little finger to save the villagers from the wrath of the Lord Indra. Indra then realized the power of Lord Krishna and his mistake also then he came down and seek forgiveness from the Lord.
Importance of Annakut on Govardhan Puja
In all Vaishnav temples, the Annakut is a very common practice, when the various dishes are offered to Lord Krishna and then it is distributed as prasad among all the devotees. Devotees who do not visit the temples, they perform puja at home by creating an image with cow dung and they prepare this Annakut at home only and offer it to the Lord. Annakut holds a great importance on the day of Govardhan Puja. Annakut includes carious dishes such rice, kadhi, mix vegetables, poori, halwa, kheer, poode, mal pua, and other food items. Various local temples organize a food stalls which is popularly known as Bhandara and feed the needy or poor people and other devotees also. Many people give donations, raw food items for bhandara or food stalls.