Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
The festival of Krishna teaches us that true devotion lies in the earth, cows, and compassion, not in the flashes of the camera.
Govardhan Puja is not just a ritual for Lord Krishna. It is a festival of gratitude toward nature, cows, and the soil. It celebrates simplicity, collective effort, and purity. But when worship turns into performance, and devotion becomes a photo opportunity, the essence is lost. “May Govardhan Puja increase devotion” is not just a wish, it is a warning.
The story of Krishna lifting Govardhan mountain carries a deeper message. When arrogance blinded Indra, Krishna taught that nature and labor are our true protectors. He made people realize that the divine is not in the sky but in the soil beneath our feet. Govardhan Puja reminds us that faith without compassion is hollow.
Traditionally, villagers celebrated this festival together. Children gathered cow dung, women decorated with flowers, and men lit lamps. It was a day of shared labor and community spirit. Today, that collective devotion has turned into competition. Worship has become a display, a post for social media rather than a prayer from the soul.
The irony is sharp. We call the cow our mother, yet allow her to die hungry on the streets. We light lamps but hesitate to feed a stray animal. What devotion is it that worships the symbol and ignores the reality? Real worship begins with responsibility—to the cow, the soil, and the ecosystem.
Plastic idols have replaced cow dung, perfume has replaced the scent of earth, and selfies have replaced sincerity. Worship is now confined to the screen, while the soil, the real altar of devotion, is forgotten.
Krishna said, “Karmanye Vadhikaraste”—your right is in action, not in the result. But we have replaced action with appearance. Faith today is measured in likes and shares, not in deeds. Festivals that once united people now divide them into digital spectators.
In villages, the festival still breathes. Barefoot children gather dung, women sing “Govardhan Dharyo Girdhari,” and men light lamps together. In cities, the same day becomes a five-minute ritual followed by luxury dinners. Development has given us comfort but taken away compassion.
At a time of environmental crisis, Govardhan Puja carries deeper meaning. It calls for a bond between man and nature. Before we pray to God, we must serve the earth. True worship would be to plant a tree, feed an animal, clean a pond, or help a farmer. These acts are not just symbolic—they are the real bhakti of our time.
Shraddha, or faith, is not about bowing down; it is about connection. When faith meets responsibility, it becomes devotion. Otherwise, it remains ritual. Krishna’s message is clear—true religion stands for others.
Govardhan Puja also teaches equality. When Krishna lifted the mountain, all of Gokul stood together. No one cared about caste or wealth. Everyone was safe under one shelter. Today, we have lost that unity. Worship has become private. We must revive that sense of togetherness, where community itself becomes prayer.
Krishna’s act was not about strength, but moral courage. Today, moral courage is rare. We must build a Govardhan in our hearts—a mountain of patience, humility, and compassion.
To celebrate this festival truly, three resolutions are needed:
- Show gratitude to nature by feeding animals or planting trees.
- Restore simplicity in worship by rejecting artificiality.
- Rebuild community spirit by celebrating together.
Our devotion today shines in advertisements, not in action. We light diyas but ignore the darkness within. Govardhan Puja offers a chance to change that—to fill our hollow lives with meaning again.
This festival is not only about religion but about moral duty. It reminds us that before praying to gods, we must honor the earth. Mount Govardhan represents that strength of conscience which resists greed and arrogance. Indra represents our unchecked desires. Krishna represents wisdom that restrains them.
If Govardhan Puja increases true faith, it will also revive compassion, morality, and responsibility in society. That is the real purpose of devotion—to awaken the divine within.
Society today needs a Govardhan made of duty, not display. A festival that values truth over decoration, simplicity over show. Faith should not live on social media, but in our daily conduct.
Krishna’s message remains timeless: “When adversity strikes, lift mountains—but together.”
When you light your lamps this year, make a promise—to brighten not only your home but your heart. Let your aarti glow in your actions, not in your photos. Only then will Govardhan Puja truly increase devotion, not show-off.
Because when faith deepens, God resides within, and every heart becomes its own mountain of light.
Note: Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
Poet, freelance journalist, and columnist
All India Radio and TV panelist
333, Fairy Garden, Kaushalya Bhawan, Barwa (Siwani), Bhiwani, Haryana
Mobile: 9466526148 / 01255-281381
