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Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
7 min
14/10/2025
Govardhan Puja is celebrated on the day after Diwali, symbolising the victory of Lord Krishna over Indra by lifting the Govardhan hill. This article examines the two primary foods prepared during Govardhan Puja, panchamrit and kadhi chawal, and their ceremonial significance during the ritual. Dive deeper to know more.
Govardhan Puja is also known as Annakut, meaning mountain of food. This festival celebrates the connection between the divine and the abundance of food available for sustenance. According to legend, Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill for seven days to shield the people of Vrindavan from devastating rains sent by Indra, the god of rain. In gratitude, villagers continue to offer a variety of foods to Krishna, a ritual that remains a tradition to this day.
The offerings symbolise respect for nature, community, and the divine. Foods prepared on this day are not just for consumption; they are blessings, considered to be filled with spiritual energy, and serve as a reminder of the abundance of life and the importance of devotion. Among these, Panchamrit and Kadhi Chawal hold a special place for their symbolic and practical significance. Read this article to know the importance of these two foods and why they continue to be a part of many festivals, rituals, and events.
Panchamrit, literally meaning five nectars, is a sacred condiment made of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar. Each ingredient has a symbolic meaning. For example, milk represents purity and nourishment, essential for life; curd (yoghurt) stands for prosperity and fertility; ghee signifies strength, stability, and clarity; honey is sweetness, reminding devotees of the joy of life and devotion, and sugar completes the balance, symbolising harmony and positivity.
Traditionally, Panchamrit is offered to Krishna idols or replicas of Govardhan Hill, and then distributed among devotees as prasad. Consuming it is considered an act of receiving divine blessings. For Govardhan Puja, including Panchamrit in your celebration connects the meal to centuries of ritual practice, making the festival more than just a cultural event.
Kadhi Chawal is a staple for Govardhan Puja meals in many regions, particularly in North India. Kadhi, a yoghurt-based curry thickened with chickpea flour and tempered with spices, is served over steamed rice. On the surface, it’s a simple, comforting dish. But in the ceremonial context, it carries profound significance. The dish represents modesty, echoing Krishna’s teachings that devotion is greater than opulence. Kadhi Chawal is easy to prepare in large quantities, making it ideal for feeding villagers, devotees, or family gatherings, reminiscent of the communal offerings to Krishna. The combination of rice and yoghurt curry is not only nourishing but also symbolic of physical and spiritual balance, a theme central to Govardhan Puja. Serving Kadhi Chawal on this day is a reminder that sacred meals need not be extravagant.
Both Panchamrit and Kadhi Chawal serve as ways for spiritual expression. The foods are first presented as offerings to Krishna or Govardhan Hill, symbolising devotion and surrender. After the ceremonial offering, the prasad is shared among family, friends, and community members, symbolising gratitude to the divine. By using simple, locally available ingredients, these foods emphasise the respect for natural resources and the bounty of the earth.
Together, Panchamrit and Kadhi Chawal show the duality of celebration, ritualistic reverence and practical nourishment, bridging the spiritual and the everyday.
Even today, families across India and the diaspora continue to uphold these traditions. In urban households, Panchamrit may be prepared in smaller quantities with slight variations, but its symbolic meaning remains unchanged. Kadhi Chawal often accompanies other regional dishes, creating a full festive thali for Govardhan Puja.
For those observing Govardhan Puja outside India, Panchamrita and Kadhi Chawal become ways to reconnect with their roots. Preparing these dishes allows families to pass on stories of Krishna’s protection and the spiritual philosophy behind Annakut, making the festival both educational and devotional.
Govardhan Puja is a festival of gratitude, devotion, and abundance, and Panchamrit and Kadhi Chawal are at its heart. Preparing and sharing them transforms the celebration into an act of mindfulness, connecting devotees to Krishna’s story, to each other, and to the natural world.