Every year on the day after Diwali, the festival of Govardhan Puja is celebrated with great devotion across India. This special occasion falls on the Pratipada Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. In 2025, Govardhan Puja will be observed on October 22. The festival is particularly celebrated with enthusiasm in regions like Mathura, where the Govardhan Hill holds sacred significance.

The origin of Govardhan Puja is rooted in a legendary tale from the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana. Once, the king of gods, Lord Indra, grew arrogant and demanded the people of Braj worship him to ensure rainfall. However, young Lord Krishna persuaded the villagers to worship Govardhan Hill instead, as it was the natural source sustaining their cattle and crops. Enraged, Indra unleashed torrential rains to punish the villagers. To protect them, Krishna lifted the entire Govardhan mountain on his little finger, sheltering the people and their livestock for seven days.

This divine act is remembered with special prayers and offerings, including the preparation of 56 types of food. Devotees worship Govardhan Hill, cows, and Lord Krishna, feed the cows nutritious fodder, and seek relief from sorrows through the grace of Krishna.

The auspicious time for worship on Govardhan Puja in 2025 begins at 6:20 AM and lasts until 8:38 AM, with a second auspicious period from 3:13 PM to 5:49 PM. Celebrating this festival embodies gratitude towards nature, divine protection, and the harmony between humans and the environment.

Govardhan Puja serves as a powerful reminder of humility, devotion, and the importance of respecting nature's bounty, making it a spiritually uplifting festival for all devotees.