Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj: The Final Two Days of the Lakshmi Festival
Understand from the Puranas the Rituals to Please Goddess Lakshmi and the God of Death
By Pandit Pradeep Mishra, Kubereshwar Dham, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh
Shri Shivaya Namastubhyam.
I am Pandit Pradeep Mishra. The month of Kartik brings the grandest celebration — the festival of Goddess Lakshmi, Deepotsav. In the previous article, I explained to you about the first three dates of this great festival — Dhanteras, Roop Chaturdashi (also known as Narak Chaturdashi), and Diwali. How these three are celebrated and what the ancient scriptures say about them. After deep study of the sacred texts, I had given you all the details of those rituals. I hope it helped you understand the worship procedures and the ways of meditating and invoking the divine energies of Goddess Lakshmi during the festival.
If you are a devotee observing Lakshmi’s worship or vow, then this Deepotsav brings for you one additional day of worship. Usually, the festival of Goddess Lakshmi lasts for five days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. But this year, the celebration will begin on October 18 (Dhanteras) and continue till October 23 (Bhai Dooj) — making it six days long.
In today’s article, I am going to tell you about the last two days — Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj — and how their worship should be performed.
Every devotee must understand this — how these two days, though separate, are still connected with Goddess Lakshmi, and how their worship differs from the first three days. You may keep this information with you for future reference.
It is important to understand that your way of worship reflects your inner spirit. So when you stand before your chosen deity, remain simple and sincere, and follow the described procedures. You will surely receive your desired blessings.
Let us begin today’s article with the fourth holy day of the Lakshmi Festival — Govardhan Puja.
Govardhan — The Divine Who Increases Wealth
Usually, Govardhan Puja is performed the day after Diwali. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, it falls on the Pratipada Tithi of the bright fortnight of Kartik month. But this year, according to the calculation of dates, this puja will be on October 22.
This is because the Pratipada Tithi begins on October 21 at 5:54 PM and ends on October 22 at 8:16 PM. Therefore, Govardhan Puja will be auspicious on October 22.
Before performing the worship, you must understand Govardhan as a divine form. Because devotion without understanding cannot deepen.
Our sacred texts say that Govardhan is the vṛddhi-rūpa (expanding form) of Goddess Lakshmi — the one who increases prosperity.
In the Vedic era, cows were considered symbols of Lakshmi. That belief still continues. Govardhan means “the one who increases wealth and prosperity.”
Kali mein tum sam dev na dooja,
Sur, nar, muni sab karte pooja.
It means — In this age of Kali, there is no god equal to you. All gods, humans, and sages worship you. Whoever worships you and offers milk will be free from all suffering.
Lord Krishna’s Govardhan — The Defeat of Indra’s Pride
Our ancient stories are filled with divine dramatic elements — like the story of Govardhan.
In Gokul, there was a mountain called Govardhan which the cowherds revered as the protector of their cattle. They used to graze their cows there, believing that the grass on the mountain was beneficial for them.
During the time of Lord Krishna, the people of Gokul began to worship this mountain instead of performing the traditional Annakoot offering to Lord Indra. Indra became furious because until then, the Annakoot festival was dedicated to him — people used to prepare fifty-six kinds of food to offer as bhog.
Lord Krishna stopped the Annakoot ritual and started the worship of Govardhan Hill. This made Indra so angry that he caused torrential rain over the whole of Braj.
The people of Braj were terrified as everything began to drown in the rainwater. To protect them and their cattle, Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain on His little finger. He held it aloft for seven days, sheltering everyone.
Seeing this divine miracle, Indra realized that Krishna was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself and begged forgiveness.
Since then, Govardhan Puja replaced the Annakoot festival. Even today, in some regions, both are observed together — women make an image of Indra from cow dung and symbolically strike it with a wooden pestle.
Lakshmi Worship on Govardhan Puja
Since Govardhan Puja is part of the Lakshmi Festival, special worship of Goddess Lakshmi is also performed on this day. Along with this, devotees offer water and light ghee lamps before the sacred Tulsi plant — as Tulsi is considered an incarnation of Lakshmi.
Ritual Method:
- Take the same coin that you had placed in the plate during Diwali Puja. Sprinkle it with clean water and place it again in the worship plate.
- Worship the coin with roli (vermilion), moli (sacred thread), rice, turmeric, and henna.
- Offer five red flowers, two pieces of turmeric root, two lotus seeds, and two pieces of Amarbel vine.
- Offer two sweets made of milk or ghee.
- Light five ghee lamps and perform aarti of Goddess Lakshmi.
- After the aarti, open your hands and pray — “O Mother Lakshmi, please fill our home with abundant wealth and prosperity.”
- Offer sweets to the Goddess.
Where to Place the Lamps After Worship:
- First lamp — outside the home at the Govardhan Puja place.
- Second lamp — near the water pot.
- Third lamp — in front of the deity.
- Fourth lamp — near your safe or cupboard.
- Fifth lamp — near the Tulsi plant.
After this, place a small dot of kumkum and turmeric before Goddess Lakshmi and bow before her with folded hands.
If this method of worship seems slightly different to you, remember — it is entirely based on the rituals described in the Puranas.
The Final Ritual of the Lakshmi Festival — Bhai Dooj
This is the concluding ritual of the five-day Lakshmi Festival. Hence, it carries great importance. As the saying goes, “All’s well that ends well.” In the same way, performing Bhai Dooj rituals properly ensures the permanent presence of Goddess Lakshmi in the home.
First, let’s understand the tithi.
Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the Dwitiya Tithi (second day) of the bright fortnight of Kartik month.
This year, it falls on October 23. The Dwitiya Tithi begins at 8:16 PM on October 22 and ends at 10:46 PM on October 23.
This day is also known as Yam Dwitiya.
Bhai Dooj and Yam Dwitiya
This festival symbolizes the love between brother and sister. Two Puranic legends are associated with it.
The first is related to Lord Yama (the God of Death) and his sister Yamuna.
Both were the children of Surya Deva (the Sun God) and Chhaya. Yamuna repeatedly invited her brother to come and have a meal at her home. But being the god of death, Yama always hesitated to go. Every time, he made some excuse.
Finally, on the Dwitiya Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, Yama suddenly visited his sister. Yamuna, overjoyed, welcomed him warmly and served him a grand meal. Pleased by her affection, Yama asked her to request a boon.
Yamuna said, “Brother, please visit me every year on this day, and may every sister who worships her brother on this day never fear death.”
Yama granted her wish, and since then this day came to be known as Yam Dwitiya.
The Story of Krishna and Subhadra
Another legend links Bhai Dooj with Lord Krishna and his sister Subhadra.
As mentioned earlier in the Narak Chaturdashi story, Lord Krishna had slain the demon Narakasura. During the fierce battle, Krishna was injured.
Since Narakasura had a boon that he would die only by his mother’s hands, Krishna’s every attempt initially failed. Finally, His consort Satyabhama, who was an incarnation of Bhudevi (Mother Earth), helped and killed Narakasura.
After the victory, Lord Krishna freed the 16,100 women imprisoned by Narakasura and married them to protect their honor.
When Lord Krishna later visited his sister Subhadra, she joyfully welcomed him, applied a tilak on his forehead, and offered him sweets and flowers.
That day was the Dwitiya Tithi — and since then, this day has been celebrated as a symbol of sibling affection — Bhai Dooj.
Lakshmi Worship on Bhai Dooj
As I mentioned earlier, this is the final day of the Lakshmi Festival — the day of conclusion and fulfillment. Hence, performing Lakshmi Puja properly on this day is very auspicious.
Ritual Method:
- Consult a priest or astrologer to determine the most auspicious time (muhurta).
- Offer ground turmeric and kumkum to Goddess Lakshmi.
- Place the worship coin (washed) on a plate. Along with it, keep one lotus seed, one turmeric root, one piece of Amarbel vine, and one red flower.
- Also keep kumkum, turmeric, moli, sandalwood, rice, mehndi, abir, and gulal.
- Light five ghee lamps. Then light camphor and perform the aarti of Goddess Lakshmi with it.
- Open your hands and pray — “O Mother Lakshmi, please stay in our home forever and bless us with your grace.”
After the worship, wrap the coin, lotus seed, turmeric, and Amarbel in a clean cloth and place it in your safe or cupboard.
Where to Place the Lamps:
- First lamp — in front of the safe or cupboard.
- Second lamp — near the home temple.
- Third lamp — near the water source.
- Fourth lamp — beside the Tulsi plant.
- Fifth lamp — in the living room.
Then sprinkle yellow rice at the doorway and enter your home.
From that moment, the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi will remain upon you forever.
