ANNAKOOT IN BRAJ MANDAL
OCTOBER 2014
OCTOBER 2014
Preparations are on for the "Annakoot" a
grand religious feast that is to be held Friday in Sri Krishna temples and at
community centres all across Braj Bhoomi.
Community feasting with more than 56 different food-items in the temples of Sri Krishna, a day after Diwali, is the chief attraction for many devouts who have begun arriving in the Goverdhan hill-town for the 'parikrama' and the celebrations. A large number of foreign "Sri Krishna Bhakts" are already in the town, chanting bhajans as they perform the "parikrama of the 21 km long hill."
According to Hindu mythology, Sri Krishna lifted the Goverdhan hill on his little finger to protect people from the wrath of Lord Indra. The faithfuls now undertake the 21 km 'parikrama', which is going around the hill, and take a holy dip in the Mansi Ganga pond, located close to the temple.
Goverdhan puja is celebrated in Agra division that includes the entire Braj Mandal and the districts of Aligarh, Firozabad, and Hathras.
The Goverdhan is made of cow-dung and the community collectively worships the deity with sweets and milk.
The immersion in the river or ponds takes place the next day, according to Mahesh Pandit Shukla.
"For convenience sake, the Goverdhans these days are made on bullock carts which can be easily towed to the river the next day for immersion ceremony with lots of music, dance and the customary pujas," said Madhu Mangal.
For the past few years, the size of the Goverdhan is increasing -- up to 20 feet now.
The Annakoot Bhoj falls on the first day of the fortnight of the waxing moon, also known as Shukla Paksha, in the Hindu month of Kartik. "Goverdhan means the nurturer of the cows."
During this community feast lots of food items, sweets, namkeens and dry fruits are offered to Goverdhan.
"This is one way of bonding with people," said activist Jagan Nath Poddar.
Community feasting with more than 56 different food-items in the temples of Sri Krishna, a day after Diwali, is the chief attraction for many devouts who have begun arriving in the Goverdhan hill-town for the 'parikrama' and the celebrations. A large number of foreign "Sri Krishna Bhakts" are already in the town, chanting bhajans as they perform the "parikrama of the 21 km long hill."
According to Hindu mythology, Sri Krishna lifted the Goverdhan hill on his little finger to protect people from the wrath of Lord Indra. The faithfuls now undertake the 21 km 'parikrama', which is going around the hill, and take a holy dip in the Mansi Ganga pond, located close to the temple.
Goverdhan puja is celebrated in Agra division that includes the entire Braj Mandal and the districts of Aligarh, Firozabad, and Hathras.
The Goverdhan is made of cow-dung and the community collectively worships the deity with sweets and milk.
The immersion in the river or ponds takes place the next day, according to Mahesh Pandit Shukla.
"For convenience sake, the Goverdhans these days are made on bullock carts which can be easily towed to the river the next day for immersion ceremony with lots of music, dance and the customary pujas," said Madhu Mangal.
For the past few years, the size of the Goverdhan is increasing -- up to 20 feet now.
The Annakoot Bhoj falls on the first day of the fortnight of the waxing moon, also known as Shukla Paksha, in the Hindu month of Kartik. "Goverdhan means the nurturer of the cows."
During this community feast lots of food items, sweets, namkeens and dry fruits are offered to Goverdhan.
"This is one way of bonding with people," said activist Jagan Nath Poddar.
Meanwhile, there has been
an average increase of 25 percent on all vegetables. "This is due to the demand
pressure. For preparation of the special subzi called "Gadd" a kind of mixed
vegetable, more the better, families buy a wide range of common and exotic
varieties of vegetables. This leads to increased demand. Subzi mandi remains
closed a day after Diwali and that leads to additional pressure," explained
Bahadur Singh, a vegetable vendor of Krishna
Nagar.
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