Honoring Lord Krishna, Nature’s Bounty, and the Bonds of Prosperity and Love
The fourth day of Diwali, following the radiant night of Lakshmi Puja, holds a profound blend of devotion, gratitude, and renewal. Known by various names across India-Govardhan Puja, Annakut, and Padwa (Bali Pratipada)-this day represents different yet harmoniously connected aspects of the human experience: faith in the divine, thankfulness to nature, and celebration of relationships and new beginnings.
The Legend of Govardhan Puja: When Krishna Lifted the Mountain
The most celebrated story associated with this day comes from the Bhagavata Purana and centers on Lord Krishna’s miraculous lifting of the Govardhan Hill. In the idyllic village of Vrindavan, the people once worshipped Lord Indra, the rain god, offering him rituals and feasts to ensure abundant rains and rich harvests. Young Krishna, seeing this practice, asked the villagers to instead worship Govardhan Hill, which provided them with fertile pastures, food, and shelter. He taught that nature itself is divine and should be revered with sincerity and gratitude.
Convinced by Krishna’s wisdom, the villagers offered their prayers and food to the Govardhan Hill instead of Indra. Enraged by this defiance, Indra unleashed torrential rains and storms over Vrindavan. To protect the people and animals, Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill on his little finger, holding it like a vast umbrella for seven days and nights.
Defeated, Indra realized Krishna’s supreme divinity and humbly sought forgiveness. From that day, the people of Braj began celebrating Govardhan Puja, honoring Krishna’s protection and the nurturing power of nature.
Spiritual Meaning: Worshipping the Sustainer of Life
Govardhan Puja is not merely a celebration of a mythological event-it is a spiritual lesson in humility, ecology, and gratitude. Lord Krishna’s act symbolizes the victory of devotion over arrogance, faith over fear, and nature’s grace over human pride.
The Govardhan Hill represents Mother Earth, the ultimate giver of sustenance. Worshipping the hill is an acknowledgment that every grain of food, drop of water, and blade of grass is a divine blessing. Krishna’s message remains timeless: true worship lies not in hollow rituals but in reverence for the living world and in acts of service, protection, and compassion.
Annakut – The Mountain of Food
The day is also celebrated as Annakut, meaning “mountain of food.” This ritual is one of the most visually delightful and spiritually fulfilling parts of the festival. Devotees prepare an enormous array of vegetarian dishes-sweets, fruits, snacks, rice, pulses, and milk products-and arrange them in the form of a hill, symbolizing Govardhan Mountain.
The offering, known as Chhappan Bhog (56 dishes), is made to Lord Krishna to express gratitude for the year’s harvest and the abundance bestowed by nature. In many temples, especially in Mathura, Vrindavan, Nathdwara, and ISKCON centers, the food is beautifully displayed before the deity and then distributed as prasadam to devotees, representing the sharing of divine blessings and communal joy.
The Annakut feast also carries the message of charity and community sharing-reminding that wealth and food gain true sanctity only when distributed selflessly.
Padwa or Bali Pratipada: Renewal and Relationships
In many parts of India, especially in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and South India, the same day is celebrated as Padwa or Bali Pratipada, each with its own cultural significance.
– In Maharashtra, Padwa is observed as Gudi Padwa of the Diwali cycle (not to be confused with the spring New Year festival). It celebrates the bond between husband and wife. Wives perform rituals and apply tilak on their husbands’ foreheads, praying for their long life and prosperity, while husbands present gifts as tokens of love and respect. This exchange reinforces marital harmony and gratitude within family life.
– In Gujarat, the day marks the beginning of the new financial year, known as Bestu Varas. Business communities perform Chopda Pujan, worshipping their account books and ledgers before Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. It symbolizes a fresh start guided by honesty, diligence, and divine blessings for prosperity.
– In the Vaishnavite tradition, this day also honors King Bali, the generous demon ruler who was sent to the underworld by Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar, with a promise that he would return once a year. Bali Pratipada thus symbolizes selfless devotion and eternal faith.
Regional and Cultural Diversity
Across India, the celebrations of this day take on varied hues:
– In Braj, Mathura, and Vrindavan, devotees perform Govardhan Parikrama-circumambulating the sacred Govardhan Hill, chanting Krishna’s name, and offering food, incense, and flowers.
– In Gujarat and Rajasthan, people decorate cow dung models of the hill and worship cows, recognizing their sacred role in agrarian life.
– In South India, the day marks Bali Pratipada, symbolizing the return of righteousness and devotion through Lord Vishnu’s blessing.
Despite the regional differences, the underlying message remains the same-gratitude to nature, reverence for divinity, and celebration of togetherness.
Symbolism: Lessons for Modern Life
The story of Govardhan Puja holds a timeless message for today’s world. As humanity faces ecological challenges, Krishna’s act reminds us that nature is not to be exploited but revered. The hill he lifted is a symbol of environmental balance, while his protection of the villagers embodies compassion and responsibility toward all living beings.
The Annakut offering teaches the virtue of contentment and sharing, and Padwa highlights love, renewal, and integrity in relationships and enterprise. Together, they form a holistic message for modern living-anchored in faith, gratitude, and sustainability.
Govardhan Puja, Annakut, and Padwa together form a sacred triad of spiritual, material, and emotional renewal within the Diwali cycle. They remind us to bow not only before gods but also before the gifts of the Earth-to live with humility, to share what we receive, and to begin each new year with integrity and love.
As the fragrance of fresh food mingles with the sound of prayers and the glow of diyas, this day celebrates the essence of life itself-gratitude for what sustains us, devotion to what guides us, and love for those who walk beside us.
In honoring Govardhan, we honor the Earth; in celebrating Annakut, we honor abundance; and in observing Padwa, we honor relationships. Together, they illuminate a path where faith, prosperity, and compassion coexist in divine harmony.
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