Govardhan Puja Story

Govardhan Puja is celebrated with devotion across India right after Diwali. This festival is special because it is associated with Lord Krishna. Here's how it began and its connection to Lord Krishna: During the Dwapar Yuga, Lord Indra, the king of the gods, became arrogant about his powers. To teach him a lesson, Lord Krishna orchestrated a miraculous event. One day, Krishna noticed the villagers preparing for a grand ritual and cooking delicious meals. Curious, he asked his mother, Yashoda, about it. She explained that everyone was preparing to worship Lord Indra to ensure proper rainfall, healthy crops, and sufficient food for both humans and animals. Krishna argued that instead of worshipping Lord Indra, they should worship Mount Govardhan, as it provides fodder for the cattle. He convinced the villagers to replace Indra's worship with Govardhan Puja. Angered by this, Lord Indra unleashed torrential rains, causing severe damage to the village and its crops. The desperate villagers sought Krishna's help. To protect them, Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan with his little finger and asked everyone, along with their animals, to take shelter beneath it. Indra intensified the rain, but Krishna used his Sudarshan Chakra to control its force and instructed Sheshnag (the serpent deity) to create barriers to stop the water. After seven days of continuous rainfall, Brahma intervened and reminded Indra that Krishna was an incarnation of Vishnu. Realizing his mistake, Indra sought Krishna's forgiveness and offered him 56 types of food, known as "Chappan Bhog." From that day onward, Govardhan Puja became a tradition, with offerings of 56 dishes made to Lord Krishna.