Govardhan Pooja is celebrated with immense fervour and enthusiasm in Hindu households, especially the ones who are great followers of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is also called Govardhan dhari. The puja is tied to the great legend of Krishna and mount Govardhan. This festival is also called Annakoot which translates as a mountain of food signifying the importance of Govardhan.
Pratipada Tithi Begins - 10:36 on 15/Nov/2020 Pratipada Tithi Ends - 07:06 on 16/Nov/2020
Govardhan Puja Evening Muhurat - 15:18 to 17:26
Govardhan puja is celebrated to commemorate the history of Govardhan Parbat through which the lives of many people was saved from the critical rain. It is considered that the people of Gokul were used of worshipping God Indra, also known as God of rain. But Lord Krishna had to change such type of opinions of the people of Gokul. He told that you should all worship the Annakut hill or Govardhan Parbat as he is the real God who is nurturing and saving your lives from drastic conditions by giving you food and shelter.
Hence, they had started worshipping that mountain in the place of God Indra. By seeing this, Indra became angry and started raining too much in the Gokul. Finally Lord Krishna had saved their lives by lifting the Govardhan hill at his little finger and covered the people of Gokul under it. In this way proud Indra had defeated by the Lord Krishna. Now, the day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja to offer the homage to the Govardhan Parbat. Govardhan puja festival is also being celebrated as the Annakut.
The day is also celebrated as Padva or Bali Pratipada in the Maharashtra as it is considered that demon King Bali was defeated and pushed to Patal Loka by the Lord Vishnu in the form of Vamana (incarnation of Lord Vishnu).