Govardhan Puja 2024: Significance, Rituals, and How to Celebrate

The five-day Diwali festival has special significance for the people. During these five days, a different kind of pomp and show is seen in people’s homes. Gods and Goddesses are worshiped in the morning and evening. Along with this, the house is decorated with diyas, garlands, and flowers. 

On the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, Dhanteras is celebrated on the second day, chhoti Diwali on the third day, Diwali on the fourth day, on the fourth day, Goverdhan puja and finally the festival of bhai Dooj is celebrated.

According to the Vedic Panchang every year the festival of Goverdhan puja is celebrated on the Pratipada tithi of Shukla paksha in the month of Kartik. On this day it is customary to worship Lord Krishna. 

It is a religious belief that by worshipping Lord Krishna, all the sorrows and sufferings of the devotee are removed. Let us know when the pratipada tithi of shukla paksha of Kartik month this time on which day the festival of Govardhan puja will be celebrated.

When is Goverdhan Puja?

According to the Vedic Panchang this year the shukla paksha pratipada tithi in the month of Kartik starts on November 1, 2024, at 06:16 pm, and will end the next day on November 2 at 08:21 pm. In such a situation based on  Udayatithi the festival of Goverdhan puja will be celebrated on November 2, 2024.

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Goverdhan puja Muhurta

The auspicious time for Goverdhan puja on 2 November 2024 is from 6 am to 8 am in the morning. After this puja can also be done between 03:23 minutes to 05:35 minutes in the afternoon.

Why is Goverdhan puja celebrated?

The festival is celebrated to honor the lifting of Goverdhan Hill by Lord Krishna. He did this to protect the villagers of Vrindavan from the warmth of Lord Indra, the God of rain and storms. According to the legend, Indra, angered by the villagers’ decision to stop his worship, sent down heavy rains to flood the area. In response, Lord Krishna lifted the massive Goverdhan Hill on his little finger providing shelter to the villagers and their cattle for seven days. This event symbolizes Krishna’s teaching that nature should be respected and that blind rituals and worship should be replaced with acts of love and devotion.

Significance of Goverdhan puja

1. Victory of good over evil: The festival celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over Lord Indra’s arrogance, showing that devotion and humility triumph over ego and power.
2. Nature worship: Goverdhan puja emphasizes the importance of nature in our lives. The GoverdhanHill, cattle, and food are all considered sacred and worshipped on this day.
3.  Devotion to Krishna: The festival is a reminder of the power of devotion. Krishna’s act of lifting the hill symbolizes how he always protects his devotees from harm.

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Rituals of Goverdhan puja

The rituals of Goverdhan puja are elaborate and focus on worshipping nature and Lord Krishna. Let’s look step-by-step at the main practices:

1.  Building a Goverdhan Hill: On the day of Goverdhan puja a small replica of Govardhan Hill is created using cow dung or mud. This symbolizes the actual Govardhan hill lifted by Lord Krishna. The hill is decorated with flowers and small figures of cows, Krishna, and other characters from the legend are placed around it.
2. Annakut (Mountain of food): One of the most important aspects of Goverdhan puja is the offering of a large variety of food to Lord Krishna, which is called Annakut. Devotees prepare a mountain of food made from grains, sweets, and other vegetarian delicacies, which are later distributed as Prasad (blessed food). This act signifies gratitude towards Krishna for protecting his devotees and providing them with abundance.
3.  Worship of cows: Since cows are regarded as sacred in Hinduism, they play a crucial role in Goverdhan puja. People wash and decorate cows, and they are offered prayers, sweets, and food. This act reflects the agrarian lifestyle of ancient India where cows were highly valued for providing milk and agricultural support.
4.  Parikrama of Govardhan Hill: Devotees who live near the actual Govardhan Hill perform a parikrama (circumambulation) of the hill. This is done as an act of reverence where devotees walk around the hill, praying and singing devotional songs. Those who cannot visit the hill perform a symbolic parikrama around the Govardhan hill model at home.
5. Storytelling and kirtan: On this day devotees recite the story of Govardhan hill and Lord Krishna’s miraculous feat, and participate in kirtan (devotional songs). These songs glorify Krishna’s love for his devotees and his protection of nature.

Remedies on Govardhan puja

1. Cows are worshiped on the day of Govardhan puja. It is believed that by doing this happiness, prosperity, and well-being come to the devotees’s house.
2.  On the day of Govardhan puja, one should light a lamp under the Peepal tree. Lighting a lamp under the Peepal tree on this day brings prosperity and wealth.
3. On the day of Goverdhan puja,  one should donate green vegetables to the Vishnu temple. Also one should chant the mantra “Om Namo Bhagwate Narayanaya”. By doing this the person gets a lot of progress in his career.
4. Worshiping the Tulsi plant in the month of Kartik to please Goddess Lakshmi.
5. During Govardhan puja keep 5 Gomti chakras and 5 coeries on a plate and worship them with roli-rice after the puja. Pick them up, tie them in a red cloth, and keep them in your locker.

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Conclusion

Goverdhan puja is not just a religious celebration but also a festival that highlights the importance of respecting nature and being humble in our devotion. The rituals performed on this day are a reminder of Krishna’s teachings on living a life of simplicity, devotion, and reverence for nature. For the devotees, it’s a day to express gratitude, celebrate abundance, and seek the blessings of Lord Krishna.