From the series: Diwali Days, Bygone and Bright
🫓 Day 5: Govardhan Puja / Bali Pratipada / Gujarati New Year – Honoring Mountains, Monarchs, and New Beginnings
Diwali isn’t a single spark—it’s a constellation. And Day 5 is where the light deepens into gratitude, renewal, and rebirth.
🏔️ Govardhan Puja – The Mountain That Sheltered Devotion In North India, this day honors Govardhan Hill—a symbol of quiet strength. Legend says the villagers of Vrindavan were preparing offerings to Indra, the god of rain. But young Krishna urged them to honor the mountain that truly protected them. Angered, Indra unleashed a storm. Krishna lifted Govardhan with his little finger, sheltering the village for seven days.
Today, families recreate this act with Annakut—miniature hills of food offered to Krishna. It’s more than a feast. It’s a reminder that protection doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it simply stands.
👑 Bali Pratipada – The King Who Chose Sacrifice In Maharashtra, it’s a day to welcome back King Bali—a ruler so generous, even the gods took notice. Vishnu, in his Vamana avatar, asked Bali for three steps of land. With two, he covered the earth and sky. For the third, Bali offered his own head.
Moved by his humility, Vishnu granted him a boon: to return once a year and be celebrated. Maharashtrians light lamps, share sweets, and tell his story. It’s a tribute to leadership rooted in service—and power born of sacrifice.
📅 Gujarati New Year – The Day We Begin Again In Gujarat, the new year—Bestu Varas—isn’t just a calendar change. It’s a cultural reset. Families rise early to temple bells, sandalwood incense, and the rustle of new clothes. They greet each other with “Saal Mubarak!”—a wish that carries hope, not just cheer.
Business owners perform Chopda Pujan, worshipping fresh account books with prayers for prosperity and purpose. Gifts are exchanged—not as perks, but as blessings. It’s generosity in motion. Gratitude in action.
📈 Chopda Pujan at BSE & NSE – Where Markets Meet Mantras Even India’s financial giants—Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE)—join the celebration. During Muhurat Trading, a special one-hour session, traders perform Chopda Pujan at their terminals, decorating them with flowers and incense.
Symbolic trades are placed—not just for profit, but for grace. With NSE ranked among the world’s top 10 exchanges, and BSE being one of the oldest, this ritual shows that even the most modern institutions can honor ancient wisdom. It’s where spreadsheets meet spirituality.
This day isn’t just about rituals. It’s about recognition. Of the mountain that shelters. Of the king who sacrifices. Of the employee who shows up. Of the soul—and the stock exchange—that’s ready to start again.
So whether you’re offering laddoos to Krishna, lighting lamps for Bali, worshipping your ledger, or whispering “Saal Mubarak” to a friend—know this:
Day 5 is the day we say: Thank you. I see you. I honor you. I begin again.
—Rachana Bahel
