Agra, Oct 29 (IANS) A 50 feet high heap of cow dung symbolising Goverdhan hill and temples organising Chhappan Bhog, which comprises 56 preparations for Lord Krishna, were the highlights of a special puja held in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday, a day after Diwali.Goverdhan Pujas were held all over Lord Krishna’s Braj Bhoomi comprising Vrindavan, Goverdhan, Mathura and Agra.

Huge ‘goverdhans’ of cow dung were made by the devotees for puja in the evening. It is followed by Annakoot which is community feasting having special preparations of Kadhi, Bajra, rice, moong and an assortment of vegetables - all mixed together.

A few temples in Mathura organised Chhappan Bhogs.

Legend has it that Lord Krishna picked up the Goverdhan hill on his little finger to protect his devotees from the wrath of Lord Indra.

In a temple in Agra’s Shahjadi mandi area, a 50 feet high ‘Goverdhan’ of cow dung was made. The Mathuradheesh temple on the Yamuna Kinara road organised Annakoot.

In Goverdhan town of Mathura district, thousands of devotees have turned up to perform parikrama of the hill, around 22 kms.

Temples are organising Annakoot and special pujas there.

Mahesh, a priest, said the “idea behind Annakoot and Goverdhan puja was to integrate the community. The main attraction is the Dan Ghati temple where thousands of pilgrims have lined up for a darshan of Goverdhan. In the rural areas you will find whole villages and mohallas joining the puja followed by Annakoot feast”.

For the Vaishnavites, it is an important festival and the Goverdhan puja is done with great enthusiasm and singing of bhajans, said Vrindavan’s Acharya Jaimini.

“Right now thousands of people have joined the annual Braj yatra of almost 200 kms on foot. They will visit all the sites associated with Sri Krishna in the Braj bhoomi,” said Gaurav Bhardwaj, a panda of Mathura.