Govardhan puja, one of the biggest festivals in the month of Kartik, observed on Shukla paksha pratipad, is celebrated with great jubilation in Radha-Kalachandji temple in Dallas on November 5^th Friday.Puja Celebration kicked off with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra

                                                                           Hare Krishna Hare Krishna , Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

                                                                                 Hare Rama Hare Rama , Rama Rama Hare Hare  

Where everyone was chanting and singing the Mahamantra and able to express their devotion to the Sri Sri Radha-KalaChandji to please the lord and get his Anubhuti on this auspicious day.

Hare Krishna Mahamantra Kirtan was followed by splendid Abhishek ceremony. It is believed  that by performing Abhikesham, the devotees and offeror cleanse and purify their own minds and impurity of soul and thus surrenders to the lotus feet of lord Krishna.

Soon after the awaited “Govardhan Puja” Started, and everyone was immersed in the devotion of “Giriraj Govardhan“ by offering Puja and chanting Hare Krishna Mantras. The main hall where Srila Prabhupada Murthi is also situated is well decorated and prepared for the celebration.

This Blissful celebration and worshiping program concluded with the sit down bhajans of Hare Krishna Mahamantra and then all the devotees offer ghee lamps in the evening and sing the beautiful Damodarastakam, which created a transcendental atmosphere in temple.

Later all the devotees took Prasadam . The whole atmosphere was filled with devotion, glory of supreme lord Krishna and divinity. Little kids’ devotees were offering the lamp to offer puja to all the devotees was good to see the Krishna Lila and his blessings to the new generation.

How Govardhan Puja started?

Govardhan puja, one of the biggest festivals in the month of Kartik, observed on Shukla paksha pratipad . The glories of Govardhan are endless and the importance of his worship was established by Krishna himself. It is said that once when the Vrijavasis were preparing for the yajna to be performed for the pleasure of lord Indra, to appease him and be blessed with sufficient rain, the young Krishna questioned the ritual and proclaimed that the worship of lord Indra was unnecessary as it was his responsibility to provide the required amount of rain to all the inhabitants of the world. Instead, they should worship mother cow and Giriraj Govardhan, as they are truly the sustainers of all the cowherds in Vrindavan.All Vrajwasis then assembled in front of the hill and performed puja to mother cow and Govardhan hill and offered all the bhoga to him. However, Indra was greatly enraged by this and immediately he ordered his Samvartaka clouds to go and devastate entire Vraj and inundate it with water. The wrath of lord Indra struck fear in the hearts of the Vrajvasis and therefore they took shelter of Krishna and prayed to him to protect them from the torrents of rain being sent by Indra. Seeing the plee of the Vrajavasis Krishna immediately lifted Govardhan hill and held it up for seven days, providing all the residents of Vraja protection from the downpour. Thereafter, when Indra understands the supremacy of Krishna and therefore came and asked for forgiveness, offering many prayers in glorification. In this way Shri Krishna himself established the worship of Giriraj Govardhan and tame the ego of Indra.

Significance of Kartik Month –

Kartik is the eighth month of the Hindu calendar, which usually overlaps with October or November in the Gregorian calendar. The month is considered one of the holiest months and it is believed that it is the month of awakening the soul with meditation and celebration. Observing fasts in the month is glorified in the Puranas. Padma Purana describes Kartik month as Krishna’s favorite month. People observe fast in this month to discard all evil deeds and adopt a pure way of life. Karwa Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami, Rama Ekadashi, Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Gowardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath Puja and Tulsi Vivah, are some of the festivals celebrated in Kartik month.

Nityananda das – Ardent Devotee of Krishna, the Yogi, the president of Radha-Kalachandji temple –

Nityananda das serves as the Chairperson for the North American GBC Executive Team, which oversees all ISKCON temples across North America.  He also serves as GBC of five states in the United States of America and serves as Temple President of the flourishing Dallas Hare Krishna Centre (ISKCON Dallas). Under able leadership of Nityananda das Radha-Kalachandji temple carries out several initiatives and programs to take Dallas devotees on the path of Krishna bhakti and setting up a Krishna conscious path for the future generations.