Annakut Festival

Annakut Festival

October-November; first day of waxing half of Hindu month of KartikaThis Hindu festival is observed on the day following Dewali in northern India. It celebrates an event in Krishna's life in which he lifted the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger for seven days, to protect the cows and people of Vrindavana (now in the state of Uttar Pradesh) against the deluge of rain sent by Indra, god of the heavens and rains. People come to the nearby town of Vrindavan from all over India to visit and worship at Mount Govardhan on this day. Those who cannot make the trip worship at home and give gifts to Brahmans. Hindus all over the world celebrate this day by preparing hundreds of different food dishes and taking them to temples to offer to the gods.
CONTACTS:
India Tourist Office
1270 Avenue of the Americas, Ste. 1808
New York, NY 10020
800-953-9399 or 212-751-6840; fax: 212-582-3274
www.tourisminindia.com
SOURCES:
RelHolCal-2004, p. 177