The festival of Diwali is a five-day extravaganza that begins with Dhanteras, followed by Chhoti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and ends with Bhai Dooj. Govardhan puja which falls on the fourth day of the festivities is celebrated with immense fervour in Hindu households, especially the followers of Lord Krishna who is also known as Govardhan Dhari.  It is also referred to as the Annakut Puja by the devotees. 

Govardhan Puja Date And Time:

It is celebrated a day after Diwali or Lakshmi Puja and falls on November 13, Monday, this year. However, in certain years, depending on the Pratipada tithi as per the Hindu calendar, Govardhan Puja is observed on the second day after Diwali.

The Pratipada Tithi will begin at 2:56 PM on November 13 and end at 2:36 PM on November 14. The auspicious timings for Goverdhan Puja in the morning are between 06:43 AM and 08:52 AM, and 2:56 pm to 4:59 pm in the evening. 

Significance of Govardhan Puja:

Govardhan Puja is performed to commemorate the victory of Lord Krishna over Lord Indra. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna had lifted Govardhan parvat (hill) with his little finger to provide shelter to the people of Vrindavan to protect them from heavy rainfall. Lord Indra was angry because the people of Vrindavan had stopped worshipping him. 

He stood there lifting the hill without moving for seven days until Lord Indra had to bow to the might of Lord Krishna and stop the rain.

Govardhan puja also stresses the importance of the fundamental aspects of human life. This is also thought to be a good way to express gratitude to Mother Nature. On this occasion, devotees perform Annakut Puja. They prepare chappan bhog (56 delicious food items) and offer them to Lord Krishna.

Why Govardhan Puja is called Annakut Puja:

It is said that Lord Krishna held the mountain on his little finger for seven days and did not move or had any food. When the rains stopped, the villagers made up for it by cooking a lavish meal with 56 items called the “chhappan bhog”. Devotees literally make a mountain of food to offer Lord Krishna, called Annakoot and that’s why the day is also celebrated as Annakut Puja.

Some of the common items found in the Chappan Bhog are Makhan Misri, kheer, rasgulla, jeera ladoo, jalebi, rabri, mathri, malpua, Mohan Bhog, chutney, murabba, saag, dahi, rice, dal, kadhi, ghewar, chila, papad, Moong Dal ka Halwa, pakoda, khichadi etc.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana Ramsay have welcomed their sixth child together. On Saturday, the 57-year-old chef took to Instagram and shared the news of the birth of a baby son named Jesse James Ramsay. 

He wrote, ”What an amazing birthday present please welcome Jesse James Ramsay, 7lbs 10oz whopper!! One more bundle of love to the Ramsay brigade!! 3 boys, 3 girls…. Done.” He shared three pictures showing his wife Tana smiling as she cradled their newborn son in a fluffy blanket. In the first picture, the chef is seen kissing his son as his wife holds him. The chef also hinted this would be his last child.

See the post here:

Tana Ramsay, who is the author of several cookery books, also shared a post, writing, ”It’s been a nerve-wracking 9 months but we’ve made it and we have been blessed with this little bundle. Ramsay’s family definitely complete. Jesse James Ramsay we love you so much.”

Several fans and fellow celebrities like Jeremy Renner, TV chefs James Martin and Gino D’Acampo, Top Gear star Paddy McGuinness, and Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden. posted congratulatory messages in response to his post. 

One fan wrote, ”Your beautiful wife looks radiant! Congrats to the two, well 8 of you.” Former Chelsea FC manager and ex-England footballer Frank Lampard commented, ”Congratulations mate!” 

Wolverine star Hugh Jackman also said, ”Congrats mate!”

A third fan wrote, ”Completely wonderful, huge congratulations.” A fourth added, ”I thought it was an old photo of Oscar to remember his birthday and it turns out it’s a new baby in the family.”

A fifth wrote, ”“Oh my goodness!!! BLESSINGS, Congratulations to you and your whole family, hope mommy is feeling great.”

Mr Ramsay and his wife have been married since 1996, and are already parents to Megan, 25, twins Jack and Holly, 23, Matilda “Tilly,” 22, and four-year-old Oscar.

Jesse’s birth comes four years after the couple welcomed Oscar.

A multi-agency operation is being carried out to rescue 40 workers trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand since yesterday morning.

An under-construction tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district partially collapsed at around 5 am yesterday, leaving 40 workers trapped inside.

The rescue operations are being conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and the police.

A senior official told NDTV that all 40 workers are safe and are being supplied oxygen through a pipe. “Everyone is safe, we are in constant touch with the trapped workers,” Prashant Kumar said.

Mr Kumar said that communication has been established with the trapped workers and they have been sent water and food items.

He said that the collapsed portion of the tunnel is located about 200 metres from the entrance and about 20 metres of the slab has been removed so far to open the tunnel.

“The team is removing the debris using excavators and other heavy machines,” he said.

The tunnel is meant to connect Silkyara to Dandalgaon in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi. It is being built under the Char Dham Road Project and aims to reduce the journey from Uttarkashi to Yamunotri Dham by 26 kilometres.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami yesterday said that he has been briefed about the rescue operation. “I have been in contact with the officials from the time I got to know about the incident. NDRF and SDRF are at the spot. We pray to God for the safe return of everybody,” he said.