ISKCON Nairobi

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GOVARDHAN PUJA

November 14, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Govardhan Puja commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over Indra. Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan hill on his little finger and saved the residents of Vrindavana from the wrath of Lord Indra. Govardhan Hill is a sacred mountain in Vrindavan where Krishna and His cowherd friends performed several childhood pastimes. Lord Krishna said that Govardhan Puja is as good as worship of Him.

Govardhana Puja is celebrated in the month of Kartika (October – November) to commemorate the pastime of Lord Sri Krishna lifting the Govardhana Hill to protect the residents of Vrindavana from the wrath of Indra.THE RITUAL OF GOVARDHAN PUJA IN VRINDAVAN – ISKCON Kolkata

As per the instructions of Krishna and following in the footsteps of the residents of Vrindavana, this festival is celebrated every year in the month of Kartika. Devotees prepare varieties of foodstuffs with grain and ghee (like rice, dhal, halva, pakora, puri, etc.) and all kinds of milk preparations (such as sweet rice, rabri, sweet balls, sandesh, rasagulla and laddu). The food is stacked like a small hill and offered to the Lord. Then it is distributed to everyone as prasadam. Hence, this festival is also called Annakuta Festival.

Devotees also worship the cows on the day of Govardhana Puja. Krishna is known as Gopala – the protector of cows. There is also a prayer in Vishnu Purana (1.19.65) that states: namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca. Here Krishna is described as the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas. The cows are decorated and fed well. Keeping the cows in front, devotees circumambulate the Govardhana Hill.

The Deity of Lord Sri Krishna is decorated in Giridhari alankara, holding the Govardhana Hill on the little finger of His left hand. The devotees of ISKCON Bangalore make a replica of the Govardhana Hill with egg-less cakes and a variety of cookies prepared in the temple’s own bakery. The Govardhana cake is offered to the Deities of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama and later distributed to all the devotees. The cows are well decorated and offered worship. An arati is performed for Gopala, the protector of the cows. Devotees sing various songs like Yashomati Nandana. The Govardhana pastime is narrated to everyone. A grand arati is performed for Krishna Balarama while the devotees sing Sri Govardhanashtakam – eight verses glorifying the Govardhana Hill.

Details

Date:
November 14, 2023
Time:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Event Category:

Organizer

ISKCON Nairobi
Phone:
+254208155039
Email:
iskcon.nairobi@gmail.com

Venue

ISKCON Mandir – Radha BankeBihari Temple
Hare Krishna Temple, West Ngara Rd
Nairobi, Central 00100 Kenya
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Phone:
0786108108