Annakoot festival proves the meaning of its name. On this day food is worshiped and a lot of dishes are offered to God. The festival of Annakoot is celebrated on the Pratipada of Kartik Shukla Paksha. This festival has a cultural heritage. This festival is associated with mythological beliefs. There is also a ritual to offer 56 bhog to Lord Shri Krishna on the day of Annakoot Puja. On this day, mainly Kadhi made from gram flour and leafy vegetables are prepared.
Annakoot Puja Time
Annakoot will be celebrated on Tuesday, 2 November 2024 this year.
Pratipada Tithi will start on 01 November 2024 at 18:17.
Pratipada Tithi will end on 02 November 2024 at 20:22.
The Annakoot festival is associated with the birthplace of Krishna. This festival is celebrated on a very large scale in the Mathura Goverdhan region. The importance of this festival is related to the Dwapar era. It is celebrated till date. In several places, this festival is also known as the Govardhan festival.
Annakoot – A celebration of nature
An integral connection of man with nature is seen in this festival related to folk tradition. Everything that is present in nature is important to us human beings. A small glimpse of this relationship can be seen at this festival.
Different people have different beliefs with regard to this festival. Several stories related to this festival are popular in folklife. Agriculture, food grains, and food are worshipped in Annakoot. Foodgrains are necessary to protect life. Food is considered very important in the development of human beings.
Cows too are worshiped on this day. Along with this, animals that provide milk are worshiped. Agriculture, animals and birds are the basis of folklife. Folklife cannot be imagined without them. The attainment of material happiness is possible through all this. The cow provides health benefits from its milk. The bull grows grains in the fields. In this way, all of these are revered and respected. Annakoot and Govardhan Puja are done on the day of Kartik Shukla Paksha Pratipada as a way of paying our respects to nature.
Annakoot Mythological Story
A very ancient story on Govardhan Puja is heard and recited until today. This story is related to the childhood of Lord Shri Krishna. The story goes like this:
Devraj Indra had become very proud of his powers. Lord Krishna decided to create a Lila to end Indra’s pride. At that time, Lord Indra Dev was worshiped every year. This only inflates Lord Indra’s ego further. He starts believing he is the most important Devta that needs to be worshipped and the world cannot run without him. Lord Shri Krishna comprehends Indra’s emotion of being invincible.
The day on which Indra is worshiped, devotees make several dishes and decorate every nook and corner. Villagers prepare different types of food items for Lord Indra’s Puja. At this point, Lord Krishna in the incarnation of a child asks his mother why so much is done on that day. In response, Mata Yashoda tells them that today all the Brijwasis are making their best known dish for Lord Indra’s Puja, the Lord of all Devtas.
Krishna then questions Mata why is Lord India being worshipped. In response to this Mata explains that we get rain from Indra and from that we get food grains Our cows get food from this grain and they then provide us with milk. That is why we prepare Annakoot for Devraj Indra’s Puja. On this, Lord Krishna says that we should worship Govardhan Parvat. Our cows graze on that mountain and that is how they give us milk and butter. Therefore today we will all worship Govardhan Parvat. Indra does not even provide Darshan, but Govardhan Parvat always stays with us and is nearby.
On Krishna’s advice, all the villagers agree to worship Govardhan Parvat instead of Indra. When Devraj Indra comes to know that the villagers are not going to worship him and worship the mountain, he feels insulted. He starts torrential rain that day to teach the villagers a lesson. There is so much rain that the water gets everywhere. The village starts drowning. It felt like the end of the world. This scares all the Brijwasis and they start admonishing Lord Krishna. Next Shri Krishna lifts Govardhan mountain on his little finger.
He asks all the Brijwasis to come under that mountain. All the Brijwasis along with their cows and animals take shelter under that mountain. The heavy downpour of rain continues. In order to break Indra’s pride, Krishna controls the speed of rain with the Sudarshan Chakra. Sheshnag acts as a ridge and stops the water from coming towards the mountain. The rains continued for seven days. Finally, Indra realised his mistake. He goes to Brahma ji. Brahma ji tells Indra that the Krishna you are talking about is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hearing this, Devraj Indra feels ashamed of his pride. He pauses and apologizes to Shri Krishna for his mistake. From that day onwards the villagers start worshiping the Govardhan Parvat and celebrate the festival of Annakoot.