Govardhan Puja is a
Hindu festival celebrated on the day of the birth of Lord Krishna.
The day after Diwali, on the first day of the bright
(waxing) half of the lunar month Kartik (October–November), the celebration is
held.
The festival's founding narrative is based on the deity Krishna's
legend, and it is celebrated mostly in the Braj area south of contemporary
Delhi, where Krishna is claimed to have resided.
This is the day, according to tradition, when Krishna built
Mount Govardhan to shield the inhabitants of Braj from the deity Indra's
storms.
Indra was enraged because Krishna had convinced the local
elders to send tributes to Mount Govardhan instead of Indra.
Krishna acted as a cover for the mountain for a week, after
which Indra conceded defeat.
On this day, pilgrims go around Mount Govardhan.
The mountain is seen as a physical manifestation of Krishna
himself, and cows and bulls are adorned and worshipped as a result of Krishna's
affinity with livestock.
The event is also known as Annakut ("mountain of food") in honor of the offerings made to Mount Govardhan in that narrative, as well as the mountain of offerings (especially milk-based desserts) prepared for celebration in contemporary times.
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