Govardhan Puja 1963

On the Pratipada of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika, in autumn — the first day of the bright fortnight, the day after Diwali. For this year's date, see the date shown above.

The 'mountain of food' — a large spread of vegetarian dishes cooked and heaped before Krishna in the image of the Govardhan hill he lifted, then offered and shared as prasad, ideally with the whole community.

A small hill is modelled from cow dung and decorated with trees, cattle and figures, and worshipped as Govardhan itself. Cow dung ties the rite to the pastoral, agrarian world the festival gives thanks for.

The katha turns worship away from Indra, a distant power appeased through fear, toward the hill, the cattle and the land that actually sustain life. It is a festival of gratitude to nature.