Divine Power! Govardhan Puja Triumphs in Bhadaj

Govardhan Puja and Annakut Mahotsav Grand New Year Celebration at Hare Krishna Temple, Bhadaj

Lord Shri Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain on his little finger to protect the residents of Vraj from the anger and oppression of Indra. The Kartik Dipotsav is celebrated to remember this event. As a part of this, the Govardhan Puja and Annakut Mahotsav were celebrated at the Hare Krishna Temple, Bhadaj, on October 22, 2025. Devotees attended this festival with great enthusiasm and took advantage of it.

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Speaking about the importance of Govardhan Puja and Annakut Mahotsav, Swami Shri Jaganmohan Krishna Dasa, President of Hare Krishna Temple, Bhadaj, said, “When the Almighty Lord Shri Krishna saw that the residents of Vraj were performing Indra Yajna (sacrifice), Lord Shri said that they should stop worshipping Indra and worship Govardhan mountain instead. Knowing this, Indra gets angry and rains destruction on the residents of Vraj. Then Lord Shri Krishna lifts the Govardhan mountain on the little finger of his left hand and shelters all the residents of Vraj under its shade for seven continuous days. Indra becomes aware of his evil deed and seeks forgiveness from Lord Shri Krishna.

Thus, the Almighty Lord states that the devotee who stays under His shelter and remains busy in devotional service with emotion is freed from all bondage and does not need to worship other demigods to receive worldly grace. This auspicious occasion is described as Govardhan Lila in the Tenth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, where Lord Shri Krishna says that Govardhan mountain is a form of Himself and is worshipable just like Him. To remember this abstract divine play (Lila) performed by Lord Shri Krishna, the Hare Krishna Temple, Bhadaj, celebrated the annual Govardhan Puja and Annakut Mahotsav at the temple, which included more than 150 different dishes.

After that, Lord Shri Shri Radhamadhav, who is attractive and charming to all, was given a magnificent ride in a grand “Gold Chariot” where the devotees joined in singing Sankirtan (congregational chanting) praising the qualities of Lord Shri Krishna.”

Offering more than 1008 dishes made from cake, various types of cookies, and other food items to Lord Shri Krishna and Shri Govardhanji became the centre of everyone’s excitement. The cakes and cookies offered in the Annakut were made entirely inside the temple by the devotees, who were 100% pure and vegetarian. This Annakut was offered to Shri Shri Radhamadhav, and Mahamangala Aarti (grand auspicious worship with lamps) was performed.

Devotees then sang the Govardhan Ashtakam, describing the greatness of Govardhan mountain in 8 verses. Lord Shri Krishna is also worshipped as Gopal, the protector of cows. Gau-Puja (cow worship) was also performed during the festival. The cows were decorated with beautiful silk clothes, and jaggery and bananas were traditionally offered. Devotees also worshipped and prayed to the cows and performed Parikrama (circumambulation) of Govardhan mountain. At the end of the festival, the cake and other dishes were distributed to the devotees as Prasad (sanctified food).

As part of the Dipotsav Mahotsav celebrated in the month of Kartik, a very grand Dipotsav Aarti of the Lord was performed at the end, during which all the present devotees felt blessed and experienced a divine closeness.

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