Govardhan Puja is to be celebrated on Wednesday, 26th October 2022.
Gowardhan Puja is part of the Diwali celebrations. It is an auspicious festival, especially for northern states of India, including UP, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, and Bihar. However, this festival is not very prevalent in the southern part of our country. Since the festival falls under the Diwali cluster, the rituals are similar. However, let us know the Gowardhan Puja date, Tithi, and timings.
Gowardhan Puja 2022
Date of Celebrations – Wednesday, 26th October 2022
Gowardhan Puja Muhurt (Pratahkala) – 6.29 am to 8.43 am
Pratipada Tithi – Begins at 4.18 pm on 25th October 2022
Pratipada Tithi – Ends at 2.42 pm on 26th October 2022
Gowardhan Puja – Hindu Calendar
Gowardhan Puja falls on the first day (Prathama) of Shukla Paksha in Karthik month. However, the moon rise should not happen during the Gowardhan Puja muhurt timings. Therefore, one should celebrate Gowardhan Puja on the previous day if it falls in this period.
Significance of Gowardhan Puja
Gowardhan Puja has an interesting anecdote behind it. Our scriptures provide a detailed version of the incident commemorated as Gowardhan Puja. The people of Vrindavan were suffering under a severe drought. So, they decided to pray to Indra, the God of Rain, and seek his blessings. Bhagwan Shri Krishna was a child at that time. He innocently questioned the logic behind appeasing Indra when it was the cows, the Vrindavan forest, and the Gowardhan mountain that sustained the population.
The Vrindavan people could not refuse Shri Krishna. So, they started worshipping the Gowardhan mountain instead of Indra. The God of Rain became angry that the people listened to a kid and stopped worshipping him. So, he unleashed his fury on the hapless Vrindavan people by initiating massive rainfall. The people became afraid and approached Bhagwan Shri Krishna for help.
Shri Krishna lifted the entire Gowardhan mountain with his little finger on his right hand and asked all the people and their animals to take shelter beneath it. Indra became angrier and increased the intensity of the rainfall. It rained incessantly for seven days and seven nights. But, Bhagwan Shri Krishna kept lifting the Gowardhan mountain and sheltered the people and their cows. Finally, Indra realized his folly and begged forgiveness from Shri Krishna. Thus, Shri Krishna broke Indra's pride. That day is since celebrated with Gowardhan Puja.
Gowardhan Puja Vidhi and Rituals
We know the story behind Gowardhan Puja. Here are the Gowardhan Puja rituals and Vidhi.
People worship Bhagwan Shri Krishna, Varuna (Wind God), Indra (Rain God), and Agni (Fire God) on Gowardhan Puja day. People consider Gowardhan Puja significant because the festival conveys that life on this planet depends on Nature’s elements and resources. Therefore, one should respect and thank Mother Nature for everything we have in our lives.
People make replicas of Gowardhan mountain from cow dung and decorate it with flowers. It is advisable to perform the Gowardhan Puja rituals during the muhurat timings. People offer water, incense sticks, fruits, and oblations to Gowardhan. People also worship cows and other farm animals on this day by bathing, decorating, and offering them good food.
Devotees place a clay lamp on the Gowardhan mountain effigy and worship it by pouring milk, curds, Ganga Jal, honey, and crystallized sugar. Then, they distribute the prasad to everyone.
People pray to Gowardhan mountain and circumambulate the idol. While doing so, they spill the water from the vessel and complete the revolutions by sowing barley and other grains on the ground.
Many people worship Vishwakarma, the Divine Architect, on this day. So, industrialists worship their factories and machines because these equipment are responsible for their sustenance.
Worshipping Gowardhan mountain on this day is believed to bring prosperity and better health to children and enhance cow milk production.
Is Annakut and Gowardhan Puja the same?
Many people confuse Gowardhan Puja and Annakut by considering them the same. It is not so. Annakut is closely related to Diwali because it falls simultaneously. Gowardhan Puja is a critical part of Annakut and a significant festival ritual. Devotees pray to Bhagwan Shri Krishna to bless and look after them. It is an excellent way of expressing your gratitude to Shri Krishna.
Hindus consider Annakut the most auspicious time to teach spiritual values to their children. Usually, people prepare a massive feast that contains 56 types of food, locally known as Chappan Bhog. The food is initially offered to Shri Krishna before distributing to everyone.
Is Bali Pratipada and Gowardhan Puja the same?
Yes. People residing in the state of Maharashtra celebrate Gowardhan Puja as Bali Pratipada in their communities. Bali Pratipada falls on the first day of the Shukla Paksha in Karthik month. It is the day following Diwali.
Bali Pratipada has historical significance. It was the day when Bhagwan Shri Mahavishnu liberated Mahabali by assuming Vaman Avatar. Mahabali, the Asura King, assumed control of all three worlds; Bhu Loka, Swarga Loka, and Paatal Loka. All the kings, sages, and gods approached Bhagwan Mahavishnu, requesting him to liberate them from Mahabali’s clutches. Bhagwan Vishnu assumed the form of a dwarf Brahmin, Vamana, and approached Mahabali for alms.
Mahabali was a generous king who never failed to honor his promise. He requested Vamana to ask whatever he wanted. Vamana asked for the amount of land his feet could cover in three steps. Mahabali laughed at Vamana after looking at his tiny feet. He granted the wish. Meanwhile, his guru Sukracharya smelt something and warned Mahabali against fulfilling his promise. But, Mahabali had given his word and refused to retract his boon.
Vaman grew up in size to assume the Trivikrama form and covered the Earth and Heavens with one step and the Paatal Loka with his second. He asked Mahabali where he should place the third one. Mahabali offered his head and requested Bhagwan Vishnu to put it there. Bhagwan Vishnu thus pushed Mahabali to Paatal Lok and made him the ruler of the underworld kingdom.
People celebrate the day after Diwali as Bali Pratipada.
First Day of the New Year – Dyuta Krida
People of Gujarat celebrate Gowardhan Puja as the first day of the New Year. They celebrate by worshipping the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, and partake in various business activities. Some people also indulge in Dyuta Krida, a form of game prevalent during the Mahabharata.
Final Thoughts
Diwali celebrations extend much after Diwali as people celebrate Gowardhan Puja, Bali Pratipada, and Bhai Dooj that follow. We have discussed Gowardhan Puja and Bali Pratipada in this blog. Please visit our website to learn more about the astrological aspects of various festivals and events occurring in India. Our astrologers are willing to explain everything about your horoscopes and help secure your future.
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