Govardhan Puja 2023: Date, significance, puja vidhi of the festival

Govardhan Puja 2023 is right around the corner. The festival is celebrated with fervour and devotion on the next day of Diwali. In 2023, the auspicious day falls on November 13th, marking the second day of the bright half of the Kartik month. The day will follow the celebrations of Diwali on November 12. 

Goivardhan Puja Significance

Govardhan Puja is observed the day after Diwali, commemorating Lord Krishna's act of lifting the Govardhan hill to shield the people of Vrindavan from Lord Indra's destructive rains. Govardhan Puja acknowledges Lord Krishna's selfless act of protecting the villagers, emphasizing the power of faith, devotion, and selfless deeds in Hindu culture.

Govardhan Puja rituals 

To celebrate Govardhan Puja, devotees create a replica of the Govardhan from cow dung or clay, decorate it, and worship it with devotion. The Annakut, a display of various vegetarian dishes and sweets, symbolizes gratitude and is offered to the deity.

Vidhi and Annakut rituals for Govardhan Puja 

The ritual involves placing the replica of the Govardhan Hill on a clean surface, offering flowers and other items, and performing aarti with incense and lamps. The Annakut, symbolizing Lord Krishna's blessings, is arranged around the hill. 

Puja Vidhi on Govardhan Puja 

1. Pratahkal Govardhan Puja: The morning ritual involves cleaning, decorating, and offering various food items to the deity after performing the morning aarti.

2. Sandhya Govardhan Puja: The evening puja, also known as Sandhya Puja, includes the worship of a large hill made of cow dung or clay, symbolizing the Govardhan Hill. Devotees offer a variety of food items in a display called ‘Annakut.’

3. Govardhan Parikrama: Devotees participate in circumambulating the hill or deity after the evening puja, seeking blessings and expressing gratitude.

4. Annakut Darshan: The display of various food items is kept overnight for darshan and distributed to devotees the next day.

5. Bhajan and Kirtan: Devotional songs and hymns are integral to the celebration, praising Lord Krishna and sharing stories of his divine actions.

6. Prasad Distribution: The blessed food (prasad) is distributed to family and friends, believed to bring good luck and prosperity.