Patna: Devotees across India are celebrating Govardhan Puja today, marking the festival that follows Diwali and symbolises gratitude towards nature and the divine. Preparations are also underway for Bhai Dooj and Chitragupta Puja, which will be observed tomorrow.
According to Hindu tradition, Govardhan Hill in Vrindavan is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Narayana. On Kartik Shukla Pratipada, devotees create replicas of the Govardhan mountain using cow dung and worship it with offerings of yellow flowers, sandalwood, rice grains, incense, and lamps.
Cows, regarded as sacred in Sanatan Dharma, are bathed and adorned with new clothes, roli, sandalwood paste, and flowers. They are also fed green grass, jaggery, gram, bananas, and sweets. Serving and caring for cows on this day is said to hold spiritual merit equivalent to bathing in holy rivers.
This year, Govardhan Puja coincides with Swati Nakshatra and Preeti Yoga, with the Pratipada Tithi lasting until 6:29 pm. Devotees will take vows to protect cows and seek blessings for prosperity through worship. Temples such as ISKCON, Nagababa Thakurbari, and Gardanibagh Thakurbari in Patna are hosting special Annakut Puja ceremonies, where 56 varieties of food are offered to Lord Vishnu.
The festival also commemorates the legend of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain on his little finger to shield the people of Braj from torrential rains, thereby humbling Lord Indra. The act, celebrated through this ritual, conveys a message of harmony with nature and faith in divine protection.
Tomorrow, Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, the final day of Deepotsav, will be observed as Bhai Dooj. Sisters will apply tilak on their brothers’ foreheads, pray for their long lives, and offer sweets. In return, brothers traditionally pledge to protect their sisters and give gifts. Eating meals at a sister’s home on Bhai Dooj is considered highly auspicious and is believed to ward off negative influences.
Meanwhile, members of the Kayastha community will observe Chitragupta Puja, honouring the deity believed to record human deeds. Devotees seek blessings for wisdom, eloquence, and writing through the rituals associated with Lord Chitragupta.
