The day after Diwali, in much of north and west India, is given to Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut, meaning a heap of food. It remembers the day on which, as the tradition tells, Krishna persuaded the cowherds of Vraj to honour the hill that fed their cattle instead of the king of the gods. The worship is simple and joyful and centres on food, cattle and gratitude for the earth.
Timing
The day is the first day of the bright half of Kartika (Pratipada). The puja is done in the morning or the evening, depending on the almanac and the family. The Govardhan Puja page gives the date and the puja window for 49 cities, and you can open New Delhi, Dubai or London. The any-city tool works out other places. We do not give dates here.
Samagri: what to gather
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Fresh cow dung, or clay, for the hill | Shaped into a small Govardhan, often as a reclining figure |
| Flowers, grass, small twigs | Decoration of the hill |
| A picture or idol of Krishna | Placed beside or atop the hill |
| Clay lamps, incense, kumkum, rice, turmeric | Worship |
| Cooked grains, vegetables, sweets, kadhi, puri | The annakut: as many dishes as the family can offer |
| Milk, curd, butter, sugar | Offered |
| Fodder and jaggery for cows | Feeding the cattle |
| Water, a small bell, camphor | Worship and aarti |
Steps in order
- In the morning, clean the place of worship and make the hill from cow dung or clay in the courtyard or on a platform, with a face and a navel; some families make it in the shape of a figure lying down.
- Decorate the hill with flowers, grass and small lamps. Place a picture of Krishna or a small idol.
- Light the lamp and take the sankalp. Call upon Ganesha and then Krishna.
- Offer water, tilak, flowers and incense to the hill. Place a small lamp in the navel of the figure with milk and sweets in some traditions.
- Arrange the annakut before the deity and offer it with a prayer, covering it with a cloth if you do so in your family.
- Do the aarti, and walk around the hill, singing songs of Krishna.
- Feed the cows and calves, and share the offering among family, neighbours and the needy.
The katha
The story is from the Puranas. Every year the people of Vraj honoured Indra with offerings because he sent the rains. Young Krishna asked why. The cowherds replied that it was the tradition. Krishna said that their duty was to their cattle, their land and the hill of Govardhan, where the cows grazed, and the offerings should be made there.
The people agreed. Indra, angered by this, sent a great storm on Vraj. Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on the little finger of his left hand and held it like an umbrella, and the cowherds and cattle sheltered beneath it for seven days. Indra, seeing this, understood and came to bow. A tradition says he, with the divine cow Surabhi, honoured Krishna with the name Govinda. The story is read as a lesson in humility and in care for those who depend on us and on the land.
Regional variations
Customs differ by region and family; follow your family’s custom. In Mathura, Vrindavan and Nathdwara, temples prepare a heap of hundreds of dishes. In Gujarat the day is the New Year (Bestu Varas), and in Maharashtra it is Padva. In Rajasthan Annakut is arranged in large halls, and in some villages the cows are decorated with colours and garlands and paraded.
Fasting and food
Govardhan Puja is a festival of feasting, so there is no fast. The annakut is eaten as prasad at the end. If you are diabetic or have dietary restrictions, take small portions of the prasad and offer what you can eat. Anyone who is unwell or pregnant may simply offer a few dishes.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What does annakut mean?
Anna is food and kut is a heap or mountain. It is a symbolic hill of dishes offered to Krishna in memory of Mount Govardhan.
↳ Is cow dung necessary?
It is the traditional material, as the cow is revered. Where it is not available, clay or even a picture of the hill is used.
↳ How many dishes should I offer?
Temples offer 56 (chappan bhog) or more. At home, offer as many as you wish to make. A few simple dishes offered with devotion are enough.
↳ Why are cows worshipped on this day?
The story honours the cattle that sustained Vraj. Many families feed cows and calves with grass and jaggery as an act of thanks.