PARV 22 OF 30 · KARTIK
गोवर्धन पूजा · भैया दूज
Kartik Shukla Pratipada and Dwitiya, the two days after Diwali
"गाय के सींग पर तेल, भाई के माथ पर टीका"
Katha · The story
Indra, angry that the people of Braj had stopped offering to him on Krishna's advice and worshipped the hill Govardhan and their cows instead, sent seven days of rain to drown them. Krishna lifted the hill on his little finger and the whole village sheltered under it with their cattle. Govardhan Puja is the memory of that: the cattle bathed, their horns oiled and painted, a hill of cow dung built in the courtyard and worshipped with the new rice.
The next day is Yama Dwitiya: Yama, the god of death, visited his sister Yamuna, who put a tika on his forehead and fed him, and he promised that any brother who visits his sister on this day will not die untimely. In Mithila the sisters go further: they crush a thorn or a bajra seed under the lorha, cursing their brothers' enemies so that no harm reaches them, and then pray for the brothers' long life.
Mahatva · Significance
Govardhan is the farmer's thanksgiving to the cow and the land after Diwali; Bhai Dooj mirrors Rakhi from the other side, the sister's blessing instead of the brother's promise. Together they close Diwali and turn the village toward Chhath.
"गोबरधन के पूजा, गइया के मान"
A line everyone at the festival knows
Vidhi · How it is done in Malinagar
Annakut: new rice, kaddu, saag and kheer. Bhai Dooj: makhana, paan and the sweets the brother brings.
Married sisters who could not come for Rakhi often come for Bhai Dooj instead, because Chhath is a week away and they are coming anyway.