Mumbai: Diwali festivities continue with Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj on Nov 10-11. Various communities are celebrating both occasions on different days going by their almanac.ISKCON temple Juhu will celebrate Govardhan Puja on Nov 10 with cow worship and puja-aarti. Spokesperson Parijata Devi said, “The highlight is the elaborate Annakoot offering. ‘Mountains’ of food preparations that are sweet, salty, sour, bitter and astringent in flavour will be prepared and offered to the deity Sri Giriraj Govardhan. These are prepared using 4,000 kg of cooked rice, 500 kg halwa, 400 kg of sweet boondi and 200 kg of sev.” A lamp is lit before Lord Damodar through the Damodar month.“Additionally the chappan bhog (56 items) include laddoos, farsan, rotis, vegetable dishes, beverages, savouries, salads, raita, chiwda, shakkarpara, varieties of peda, jalebi and many other delicacies. A beautifully decorated cake, prepared by devotees as a replica of Govardhan Hill, complete with representations of the mountain, Radha Kund and Shyam Kund, trees and streams of water, will also be offered to Sri Giriraj.”The food prepared for the Annakoot mountain offering will be made without preservatives or artificial food colours, in an “FDA-compliant kitchen”. It may be recalled that ISKCON Juhu was recently raided by FDA and penalised for safety and hygiene violations.ISKCON has deployed 250 volunteers who will offer their services in various areas, including bhog preparation, cooking, cleaning and prasad distribution. Following the offerings, all the food which becomes prasad will be given to visitors and devotees.Bengal Club Shivaji Park and other Durga Puja pandals will host Annakoot with proper rituals followed by bhog prasad, said spokesman Joy Chakraborty.Maharashtrians will celebrate Bhau Beej Nov 11 as brothers and sisters visit each other to exchange greetings and sweetmeats. The Bhai Dooj mahurat for Mumbai spans from 1.30 pm to 3.46 pm.
