After the Light Comes Gratitude

 

After the Light Comes Gratitude: The Food Traditions of Govardhan Pooja, Annakoot & Chiraiya Gaur

After the sparkling nights of Diwali fade and the diyas grow dim, India awakens to a quieter, more grounded kind of celebration — one rooted in gratitude, nourishment, and nature.

While Diwali is the festival of light, Govardhan Pooja, Annakoot, and Chiraiya Gaur mark the festival of thankfulness — a time to honor food, the earth, and the divine cycle of giving.

These traditions remind us that beyond the light and laughter, there’s something deeper: the understanding that food is sacred, nature is our first provider, and gratitude is the purest form of worship.

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Govardhan Pooja — The Day of Gratitude and Nature’s Protection

The day after Diwali, homes across India prepare for Govardhan Pooja, a celebration that traces back to the time of Lord Krishna.

According to legend, Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger to protect the people of Gokul from heavy rains sent by Lord Indra. The act was more than miraculous — it symbolized the importance of faith, humility, and harmony with nature.

The Sacred Connection: Creating Govardhan from Cow Dung and the Ritual of Pothi Patra

One of the most unique and heartfelt parts of Govardhan Pooja is how families, especially in villages and smaller towns, create small symbolic villages and people out of cow dung to perform the worship.

It’s a tradition passed down through generations — humble yet filled with devotion, creativity, and meaning.

In my own family, my mother, aunt, and grandmother perform this ritual every year. They create tiny figures — people, animals, and even birds — all crafted carefully from cow dung. Each figure symbolizes life, community, and gratitude for nature’s balance.

Alongside these, they also make pothi patra (books) and chiraiya gaur (birds) from wheat flour dough, which are then boiled in water. These small, handmade offerings represent knowledge, nourishment, and the natural world — all sacred in their own way.

While making them, they follow one of the most interesting customs — they do it in complete silence.
As children, we would sit nearby, trying to guess what they were saying through gestures, giggling quietly, and marveling at how something so simple could feel so magical.

Once the Govardhan is prepared and the figures are arranged, the pooja begins. After offering prayers, a thali is prepared — usually with kadhi, chawal (rice), chapati, raita, and sabzi. This meal is offered to the deity first and then shared by everyone in the family.

Every home, I believe, has its own way of celebrating this day — different dishes, different customs, different stories. But that’s what makes Govardhan Pooja so special:
it’s not about uniformity, but about carrying forward the traditions that make each family’s bond with food and faith deeply personal.

For me, it’s not just a pooja — it’s a living story of devotion, gratitude, and the simple joy of togetherness that returns every year after Diwali.

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Annakoot — The Feast of Gratitude

The word Annakoot literally means “mountain of food,” and that’s exactly what it celebrates — the overflowing generosity of the earth.

This day is believed to be one of the largest food offerings to the gods in Hindu tradition. In temples across Mathura, Vrindavan, and Nathdwara, devotees prepare hundreds of vegetarian dishes — from dals, sabzis, and rice to sweets and snacks — to honor Lord Krishna.

The offering is symbolic of abundance, and each dish carries love and intention.

After the offering, the food becomes prasadam, shared with everyone — a beautiful reminder that divine blessings multiply when shared.

Annakoot is not about extravagance — it’s about gratitude. It’s about remembering that every grain we eat is a gift of the earth and the people who work for it.

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Chiraiya Gaur — The Grace of the Goddess and the Circle of Care

In several regions of North India, especially Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, the days following Diwali include another sacred ritual — Chiraiya Gaur.

This festival centers around Goddess Gaur (Parvati), symbolizing prosperity, well-being, and family harmony.

The Ritual

Women make small idols of Gaur Mata from clay, turmeric paste, or cow dung, decorate them with flowers and vermillion, and pray for the happiness and protection of their families.

The name Chiraiya Gaur also carries a gentle symbolism — “chiraiya” means bird — representing freedom, compassion, and balance in nature. In some traditions, women feed grains to birds and animals, extending their gratitude beyond humans to all living beings.

The Food Offering

Simple yet heartfelt dishes — puri, sabzi, halwa, and kheer — are prepared and offered to the goddess. These are not lavish meals but offerings made with devotion — symbolizing humility, nourishment, and home.

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The Shared Spirit of the Three Festivals

Though distinct, Govardhan Pooja, Annakoot, and Chiraiya Gaur are deeply interconnected. Together, they carry forward the essence of Diwali — transforming the joy of light into the peace of gratitude.

They remind us that:

• Food is not just sustenance — it’s sacred.

• Nature is not to be conquered — it’s to be cherished.

• True celebration lies in sharing and simplicity.

After the grandeur of Diwali, these festivals gently bring us back to the roots — to the kitchen, to the soil, and to the spirit of thankfulness.

Because after the lights fade, what truly remains is warmth — in our hearts, our homes, and our food.

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A Feast for the Soul

Whether it’s the lavish Annakoot thali, the humble offerings of Chiraiya Gaur, or the symbolic creations of Govardhan Pooja, each ritual revolves around food as devotion.

And that’s the most beautiful message of all:

To cook with love is to pray.
To eat with gratitude is to celebrate.
And to share your food is to honor life itself.

So as the season of light turns into the season of thanks, may our hearts — and our plates — stay full.