Chandigarh:- Today, the Gauri Shankar Sevadal Gaushala in Sector 45D, Chandigarh, celebrated the worship of Lord Govardhan, revered as the embodiment of Lord Krishna, with great joy and festivity. The occasion included the Annakut ceremony, marked by devotion and enthusiasm. The Vedic priests performed the puja and aarti of Govardhan ji. Members of the Gauri Shankar Sevadal Gaushala, including Ramesh Kumar Sharma, Sumit Sharma, Vinod Kumar, Rajnish Rampal, Dilip Rawat, Lakhiram, and Manohar Lal Saini, shared that today is a day of immense joy and celebration. On this day, Lord Krishna, in his divine form, lifted the Govardhan mountain on his little finger for seven days and seven nights to protect the people of Braj from torrential rains.
The gaushala's manager, Vinod Kumar, explained that for many years, the Govardhan Puja and a grand Annakut bhandara have been organized. This tradition commemorates Lord Krishna's divine act of humbling Indra, the king of gods, who had become arrogant. Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, enacted a divine play as Giridhari (the lifter of Govardhan). Observing the people of Braj preparing delicious dishes, Krishna asked them why they were making such elaborate preparations. Mother Yashoda explained that the dishes were for the worship of Devraj Indra. Krishna inquired, "Why do we worship Indra?" Yashoda replied that Indra brings rain, which ensures abundant crops and fodder for their cows.
Lord Krishna then suggested that instead of Indra, they should worship the Govardhan mountain, as it is the source of sustenance for their cows, providing them with grazing land and nourishment. He emphasized that the mountain is truly worthy of worship, as Indra, despite his power, becomes angry when not worshipped and never grants darshan. Feeling insulted, Devraj Indra unleashed torrential rains akin to a deluge, causing distress among the people of Braj, who began to blame Krishna for their plight.
In response, Krishna, the divine flute player, tucked his flute into his waistband and lifted the entire Govardhan mountain on his smallest finger for seven days and seven nights. He called upon all the people of Braj, along with their cows and calves, to take shelter under the mountain. Since then, the tradition of worshipping Govardhan has continued. Today, devotees and cow lovers gathered at the gaushala to perform the Govardhan Puja and partake in the Annakut bhandara, receiving the blessings of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Being, and the divine Gomata.