Thousands of devotees throng Mathura for Govardhan Puja; foreign devotees also join

A devotional atmosphere was witnessed in Mathura on Tuesday on the auspicious occasion of Govardhan Puja. According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, a massive crowd of devotees gathered to seek the darshan of Girirajji and perform the parikrama. Devotees resonated the 21 km parikrama route with bhajans, kirtans, and the sound of drums. Many devotees were seen performing the parikrama by prostrating (dandavat pranam), lying on the ground, in an extreme display of faith. This year, over 10 thousand foreign devotees from 40 countries were specially present at the festival, appearing immersed in Indian culture and devotion.

The main attraction of this festival was the grand figure of Girirajji prepared at the ISKCON Gaushala in Vrindavan. Here, the form of Govardhan Hill was created using 2,000 kg of suji halwa. Gaura Mani Devi Dasi, who arrived from America, played a significant role in preparing 250 kg of halwa on this occasion. While singing bhajans, she stated that coming to this holy land of Mathura brings her great peace and satisfaction of mind. Devotees also offered 56 bhog to Girirajji. Additionally, a heavy crowd of devotees was seen at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, where a queue of 3 km was formed for darshan.

The mythological belief behind the tradition of Govardhan Puja is that during the Dwapara Yuga, Lord Shri Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill on his little finger to protect the residents of Braj from heavy rainfall. He held the mountain aloft for seven days, breaking the ego of Lord Indra and protecting his devotees. This tradition has continued since then, and every year devotees celebrate this festival with great faith and enthusiasm.

Govardhan Hill is a sacred mountain located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, which is worshipped in Hinduism as a form of Lord Shri Krishna. Performing the parikrama of this mountain is believed to hold special religious significance. For years, millions of devotees have been coming here to perform the parikrama of Girirajji and pray to fulfill their wishes. This site is considered an extremely holy pilgrimage for the followers of the Vaishnav sect, where the flow of devotees continues incessantly throughout the year.