Common North Indian household practice · Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Govardhan Puja
How to read the Roman letters
ā, ī, ū are long vowels (as in father, machine, rule). ṛ sounds like ri. ś and ṣ are both close to sh. c is ch as in church; ch is the aspirated chh. ṃ is a nasal m; ḥ is a soft echo of the vowel before it. ṭ, ḍ, ṇ are said with the tongue curled back.
Shape a small Govardhan
In a clean place, shape a small hill as your family does, decorate it with flowers, twigs and grass, and place Krishna’s image beside it.
In villages the hill is traditionally made of cow dung, often in the shape of a reclining figure; many homes now use clay, flour or the food itself.
Our family’s way
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Offer worship
Light the lamp and incense. Offer roli, rice, milk, flowers and water to the Govardhan and to Krishna.
Say a prayer of thanks in your own words for the land, water, cows and food that sustain the family.
Our family’s way
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Offer the Annakut
Arrange the dishes the family has cooked before the Govardhan, as a “mountain of food”, and offer them.
The variety matters more than the quantity; many families cook seasonal vegetables, grains and sweets.
Our family’s way
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Walk around the Govardhan
Walk around the hill together, often seven times, carrying water or a lamp and singing.
The family parikrama echoes the long pilgrim circuit around Govardhan hill in Braj.
Our family’s way
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Sing the Govardhan aarti
Wave the lamp before the Govardhan and Krishna while the family sings the aarti.
Sing the refrain after each stanza. Keep the flame away from clothing.
Govardhan aarti · Shri Govardhan Maharaj
श्री गोवर्धन महाराज, ओ महाराज,
तेरे माथे मुकुट विराज रहेओ।
Shri Govardhan Maharaj, o Maharaj,
Tere mathe mukut viraj raheo.
O great Govardhan, O king: a crown shines on your brow.
हे श्री गोवर्धन महाराज, आपके माथे पर मुकुट शोभा पा रहा है।
तोपे पान चढ़े तोपे फूल चढ़े,
तोपे चढ़े दूध की धार।
Tope paan chadhe tope phool chadhe,
Tope chadhe doodh ki dhar.
Betel leaves and flowers are offered to you, and streams of milk are poured over you.
आप पर पान और फूल चढ़ते हैं, और दूध की धारा चढ़ाई जाती है।
तोपे is Braj for “on you”.
तेरी सात कोस की परिकम्मा,
चकलेश्वर है विश्राम।
Teri saat kos ki parikamma,
Chakleshvar hai vishram.
The circuit around you is seven kos long, and Chakleshvar is its resting place.
आपकी परिक्रमा सात कोस की है, और चकलेश्वर उसका विश्राम-स्थल है।
Chakleshvar is a Shiva shrine on the Govardhan parikrama path; a kos is an old measure of distance.
तेरे गले में कण्ठा साज रहेओ,
ठोड़ी पे हीरा लाल।
Tere gale mein kantha saj raheo,
Thodi pe heera lal.
A necklace adorns your neck, and diamond and ruby shine on your chin.
आपके गले में कण्ठा सज रहा है, और ठोड़ी पर हीरा और लाल (माणिक) शोभित हैं।
तेरे कानन कुण्डल चमक रहेओ,
तेरी झाँकी बनी विशाल।
Tere kanan kundal chamak raheo,
Teri jhanki bani vishal.
Earrings shine in your ears; the sight of you is grand.
आपके कानों में कुण्डल चमक रहे हैं; आपकी झाँकी भव्य है।
गिरिराज धरण प्रभु तेरी शरण,
करो भक्त का बेड़ा पार।
Giriraj dharan prabhu teri sharan,
Karo bhakt ka beda paar.
O Lord who held up the king of mountains, I take refuge in you: carry your devotee safely across.
हे गिरिराज को धारण करने वाले प्रभु, मैं आपकी शरण में हूँ; भक्त का बेड़ा पार कीजिए।
BhaktiBharat reads धारण and gives only the first half-line.
Our family’s way
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May your home never lack food to share.
If something here differs from your family's practice, follow your family.