Govardhan: a tradition kept alive

Govardhan pooja is a tradition not known to many especially in metro cities. The day after Diwali is mostly considered as an additional holiday. But not for us, for our family Diwali is a three day celebration.

My maternal family is extraordinarily large, considering today’s norms.  It’s a pack of 6 brothers and their two sisters, their spouses, their kids, their wives and then their kids. It’s in all four generations together. The eldest one my nana  and nani being 92 years old and the youngest being 10 months old. Each year on the night of Diwali, after doing pooja at their respective units everyone gathers at one person’s house (which keeps rotating from one family to another.) and then begins the two days  of complete fun and frolic.

The next day of Diwali is celebrated as Govardhan Pooja. “ Govardhan “ as the name suggests  is the worship of  gowardhan parvat.The preparation for the pooja begins by 4 pm. The fresh cowdung is called for and the govardhan is made.

In the late evening , everyone gathers for the pooja.  As prasad in the evening annakoot ( mix vegetable) poori , and kadi rice are made.The pooja is precided by my 92 years old Nana. Everyone comes in pair, with kids and offers the prasad of annakoot to the govardhan. Once its done. Nanaji tells the story of the Govardhan and why is it celebrated. This is done so that the younger generation knows about the relevance of the  festival.

The parikrama of govardhan is done. Previously only themale member of the hpuse were the part of the parikrama but later my Nana insisted that woman of the family should also be the part of the parikrama

As they do that parikraam in a circle the place is filled with fun, laughter and the chants of “ govardhan maharaj ki jai, Poonchi ke lota ki jai”. After almost the seven rounds the younger ones touch the feet of the elders. The aarti is done and everyone settles down for the dinner, which is nothing but the Prasad of annakot, poori , kadi and rice and a sweetdish.

I would like to end my article with a few lines by my uncle.

रात को पूरा परिवार गोवर्धन पूजा में सम्मिलित हुआ। गोवर्धन पूजा बृज का महत्वपूर्ण त्यौहार है। बृजवासी इस दिन भगवान् कृष्ण के साथ ही गोवर्धन पर्वत की पूजा करते हैं। यह प्रकृति और प्रर्यावरण के प्रति हमारे तादात्म्य का प्रतीक है।गोबर के बने गोवर्धन, गायों और गवालों की पूजा फिर उसकी परिकम्मा (परिक्रमा) सबने की। 

उसके बाद अन्नकूट, कढ़ी-चावल का प्रसाद सबने पाया।

Written by

Ms Shruti Chabra