Bali Daityaraja Puja

A festival of offering — mountains of sanctified food and rows of lamps offered to the Lord, remembering His protection.

Significance of this day

Govardhana Puja recalls how Sri Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill on His little finger for seven days to shelter the residents of Vrindavan from Indra's torrential rains.

Krishna taught the Vrajavasis to worship the hill, the cows and the brahmanas rather than perform ritual for material gain — the essence of simple, loving devotion.

Dipavali, the preceding day, celebrates the offering of lamps and Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya.

How it is observed at ISKCON Asansol

• Annakut — a hill of prasadam preparations built before the deities and offered with arati and kirtan.
• Go-puja (worship of cows), lamp offerings and circumambulation of a symbolic Govardhana Hill made of sanctified food.

Dates follow the authentic Gaudiya Vaishnava calendar observed at ISKCON Mayapur, calculated for our region. Timings for fasting and breaking the fast are announced at the temple.