ISKCON to celebrate Govardhan Puja in Visakhapatnam on November 2

Govardhana Puja will be celebrated at ISKCON, Sagar Nagar, Visakhapatnam, on November 2.

As part of the festival, an annakoot (mountain of food) will be set up with rice, various sweets and fruits to resemble Govardhan mountain and all the devotees worship it with fervent hearts. Panchamrita Abhishekam, Pushpabhishekam and harati will be offered to Giriraj amidst kirtans by the devotees. After abhishekam and harati, all the devotees perform parikrama (circumambulation) around Giriraj.

Later, 1,008 types of bhogas prepared by the devotees will be offered to Giriraj and distributed to all the devotees as prasadam. The programme would conclude with dinner prasadam to all devotees, according to Samba Das, president, ISKCON, Visakhapatnam.

Around 5,000 years ago on this auspicious day, Lord Krishna stopped the traditional Indra Puja and started Govardhana Puja. Angered by it, Indra, the king of heaven, not knowing that Lord Krishna was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that he was doing this to curb his pride, Indra wanted to destroy the village of Vrindavan by pouring down torrents of rain.

Lord Krishna, the saviour of the people of Vrindavan, lifted Govardhan mountain with his little finger of his left hand and saved the people of Vrindavan from the floods created by Indra. Following the order of Lord Krishna, even today Krishna devotees around the world worship Mount Govardhana, an incarnation of Lord Krishna Himself, on this auspicious day.

More details can be had by contacting Vamsikrishna @ 8978971415.

Published - October 30, 2024 06:17 pm IST