Govardhan Puja Celebration

6pm Arati Kirtan & Govardhan Hill

6:45pm Katha / Talk

7:30pm Feast

The History of the Festival

In ancient times, Annakuta, the day after Diwali, was an Indra-yajña, a traditional sacrifice honoring the demigod Indra for providing rains essential for a successful harvest. During His manifest pastimes on Earth in Vrindavana, some 5000 years ago, Lord Sri Krishna emphasized that exclusive devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is of greater importance, and that benefits bestowed by demigods are actually sanctioned and bestowed by Himself.

Furthermore, sensing that His devotee Indra had become overly proud of being king of heaven, Krishna wanted to teach him a lesson. So He convinced the residents of Vrindavan to stop the Indra-yajña and instead worship Govardhana Hill and the brahmanas. Lord Krishna argued that it was the fertile soils on the hill that provided the grass upon which the cows and bulls grazed;…