Sri Govardhan Puja / Annakuta
Sri Giriraja Govardhan — the sacred hill of Vraja, non-different from Sri Krishna Himself
ISKCON / Gaudiya VaishnavaGet a reminder before the next Sri Govardhan Puja / Annakuta
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Sri Govardhan Puja / Annakuta — Kartika Shukla Pratipada (the day after Diwali) — the worship of Sri Giriraja Govardhan, the sacred hill of Vraja non-different from Sri Krishna Himself. Devotees offer the Annakuta — a 'mountain of food' symbolically equal to the hill — and perform the 21-km Govardhan parikrama. Observed at every ISKCON temple worldwide with grand annakuta feasts.
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
गोवर्धन धराधार गोपाल वल्लभ प्रभो / करुणामय हे देव कृष्ण-प्रिय नमोऽस्तु ते / Govardhana Dharadhara Gopala Vallabha Prabho
Sri Govardhan Pranama
O Govardhan — lifter of the hill, beloved of the cowherds, lord — O merciful one, dear to Krishna — I bow to you
How to recite
Construct a small Govardhan-vigraha at home from cow-dung or rice (the traditional method). Offer the annakuta — a mountain of vegetarian preparations symbolically representing the offering Sri Krishna received when He convinced the Vrajavasis to worship Govardhan instead of Indra. Perform Govardhan parikrama (in person at Vraja or visualised at home). Chant 16 rounds.
Benefits
Govardhan Puja commemorates Sri Krishna's lifting of Govardhan Hill on His little finger for 7 days to protect the Vrajavasis from Indra's fury. Sri Krishna identified Himself as Govardhan ('I am Govardhan'). The annakuta tradition continues at Sri Nathji's temple in Nathdwara, at every Vrindavan temple, and at every ISKCON temple worldwide. Falls the day after Diwali (Kartika Shukla Pratipada).
✦ Special Note
Per the Mayapur Vaishnava Calendar. The day commemorates Sri Krishna's lifting of Govardhan to shelter the Vrajavasis from Indra's storm — and His teaching that Govardhan and Krishna are one. ISKCON devotees take a Govardhan-shila (sacred stone from Govardhan) as the most precious deity-form one can serve at home.
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Annakuta feast — a mountain of preparations: 56 kinds (chappan-bhog) if possible — vegetable sabjis, kachori, puri, sweet rice, halwa, kheer, peda, malpua, jalebi — all offered to Govardhan first then taken as mahaprasadam
🪔 Aarti
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki
आरती कुंज बिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥ गले में बैजंती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला । श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला ॥ गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली । लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक, ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की ॥ कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसे, देवता दरसन को तरसे । गगन सों सुमन राशि बरसे, बाजे मुरचंग, मधुर मृदंग, ग्वालिन संग, अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की ॥ जहां ते प्रगट भई गंगा, कलुष कली हारिणि श्री गंगा । स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरे अघ कीच, चरण छवि श्री बनवारी की ॥ चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेणु, बज रही वृंदावन बेणु । चहुं दिसि गोपी ग्वाल धेनु, हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद, टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की ॥
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