🕉️ Krishna + Govardhan Hill
Shukla Pratipada of Kartik (day after Diwali)
Annakut / Govardhan Puja
Annakut ("mountain of food") and Govardhan Puja commemorate young Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan on his little finger to shelter Vraj's residents from Indra's rain-storm. Celebrated the day after Diwali on Kartik Shukla Pratipada. Devotees create a small hill of food (56 items — chappan bhog) representing Govardhan, offer it to Krishna, and distribute as prasad. In Nathdwara and Braj region, this is bigger than Diwali itself.
🔔 Puja Vidhi
- Create a small hill using cow dung, decorated with flowers
- Prepare 56 different food items (or as many as possible)
- Perform Krishna puja before the hill
- Circumambulate the hill 7 times chanting "Govardhan Mahaprabhu Ki Jai"
- Distribute the chappan bhog as prasad to entire community
📜 Rules
- Cow puja is essential — the cow is honoured with garlands and sweet feed
- Braj region observes this as the biggest festival of the year
Read the full vrat katha
📖 Open the katha in the Devotional Library
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chappan Bhog? +
56 different food items offered to Krishna — grains, sweets, dairy, fried items, drinks, mouth-fresheners. Distributed as prasad after aarti.
Related vrats
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