Patna: Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakoot, is celebrated a day after Diwali to commemorate Lord Krishna’s victory over Indra and his protection of the people of Braj. This year, Govardhan Puja falls on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. The day symbolises gratitude towards nature, cows, and the cycle of sustenance that nourishes human life.
Puja Samagri (Items Needed)
For the rituals, devotees prepare the following items: roli, akshat (rice grains), batashe (sugar drops), sweets, kheer, mustard oil lamp, flowers, curd, honey, incense sticks, kalash, saffron, garlands, a picture or idol of Lord Krishna, cow dung, a photo of Govardhan Hill, Ganga water, betel leaves, and the Govardhan Puja storybook.
Puja Vidhi (Ritual Procedure)
Devotees begin the day by bathing and wearing clean clothes. The puja area or courtyard is cleaned, and a symbolic hill of Govardhan is crafted using cow dung. Offerings of roli and rice are placed upon it, followed by lighting the diya and worshipping Lord Krishna.
The offerings include kheer, poori, milk, sugar drops, and saffron water. Families then perform seven circumambulations (parikramas) of the Govardhan symbol and conclude the ceremony with aarti and prayers for forgiveness.
According to belief, performing the Govardhan Puja brings prosperity, happiness, and divine blessings, while filling the home with positive energy.
Significance And Beliefs
The festival marks the day when Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to shelter the villagers of Braj from Indra’s torrential rains, humbling the rain god’s pride. Govardhan Hill is thus revered as a divine manifestation of Krishna himself.
The celebration also honours cows, bulls, and other livestock, recognising their essential role in agriculture and livelihood. Worshipping with cow dung is symbolic — it represents purity, fertility, and harmony with nature, invoking the blessings of Gomata (the holy cow) and the environment.
