Govasta Dwadashi, Kaan Jagai and Goverdhan Pooja…The Vrajwasis sigh with contentment when they recollect how Krishna had saved them from Aghasura and taught them the value of worshipping all forms of Prakriti.
When the gopas think of Krishna’s fantastic Haat Bazaar they giggle with glee and say, “That mystic night passed in the blink of an eye, didn’t it? It was such fun to play Chaupar with Krishna. And remember how we blushed like young lovers when we saw Krishna losing all his garments to Radha in that final game?”
Yes, Krishna made their lives more meaningful and interesting. They all agree on that. After a while, Mohan wonders aloud, “Krishna has done so much for us. But what have we done for Him? Why don’t we perform a yagna and express our gratitude to Krishna?”
Madan nods his head vehemently and says, “We do that every day. And even if we do perform a yagna, what kind of gifts can we offer to the lord of the cosmos? He has everything.”
Natvar taps Madan on his head firmly and says, “Were you sleeping when Krishna’s performed the Goverdhan Pooja? He said that He is incomplete without his Shaktis – Bhakti and Prakriti.”
Madan scowls at Natvar and retorts tartly, “And may I know how you plan to do so? We can’t perform elaborate yagnas like Krishna, can we? And how can we offer our Bhakti to Krishna in a yagna? It is intangible.”
Radha listens to their conversation quietly for a while and then briskly says, “Why do you gopas think so much about such things? We just have to offer Krishna whatever we have and can with Bhakti. And leave the rest to Him. Krishna accepts everything that we offer Him with Bhakti. Always. And He does whatever He has to – at the right time. So why should we fret over that?”
Without giving the gopas a chance to talk Radha says, “Wait. I know what your question is. Listen to me. Carefully now.” Natvar says cheekily, “Radha, only you can have the answers to questions that we have not even asked you as yet! And you are not giving us a choice in the matter either. So let’s just hear you out.”
Radha puts her hands on her delicate waist and wags a threatening finger at him. The gopas brace themselves for another angry outburst. But they chuckle loudly when Radha suddenly sits down comfortably amidst them and says, “Krishna loves the food we cook. Let’s offer him a mountain of food. An Annakoot. Let’s just bring whatever we have and can – yes – anything will do – in our homes -food grains, pots, pans, leaves, flowers, spices et al. We will make a variety of dishes using all these food grains.”
“And Oho Gopal. And you Mukunda. Wait a bit, will you? We can even make sweets, snacks, savouries, papads or pickles in our homes and bring them over for our Annakoot. Or we can even offer our “seva” during the Annakoot. Remember, the size or the price of our gift does not matter.”
The gopas look at one another with sheepish smiles and agree albeit with great reluctance that Radha’s plan makes a lot of sense. Well, Radha was Radha. She does not wait for their approval. She simply takes charge of the whole thing and says, “We’ll have to make the arrangements for our Annakoot from Dushera itself. Only then can we host it on the first day of the New Year. So let’s assemble here every day and work out the details. And no one – I repeat – no one will discuss any of this with Krishna.” The gopas take a deep breath. It would be difficult to keep a secret from Krishna. But they would do it. For Him.
And suddenly all of Vraj is abuzz with excitement. The gopas and gopis speak in hushed whispers amongst themselves when Krishna is around. And prepare for the Annakoot after He returns to Nandalay.
The gopas bring the pots and pans first so that the gopis can cook the food grains in them. Others craft small cane baskets and line them with dried leaves. Some sakhis go around collecting whatever the other Vrajwasis want to offer. And a few others make a list of all the people who are willing to offer their “seva” during the Annakoot.
The gopas then cart everything to the huge makeshift kitchen that they have created in the open. Radha and her sakhis have no time to spare now. They use their culinary expertise to create a sumptuous feast for Krishna using the assorted ingredients.
Gopal and Mukunda feel very happy because Radha had included even poor gopas like them in Annakoot yagna. They clean the yagnashala, decorate the yagna vedi with pretty rangolis, tie the torans on all four sides and put up a splendid pichwai behind Krishna’s Simhasan. They assist the senior gopis in making garlands for Krishna and weave a big garland out of Tulsi especially for the yagna vedi.
Radha smiles with deep satisfaction when she sees all the gopas and gopis working in perfect harmony like Prakriti. She places a huge mound of rice on the sanctified yagnavedi. Her sakhis put all the dals, sprouts, sabjis, bhajis, papads and pickles in small pots and pans. Radha then arranges everything neatly around the Annakoot. She creates a special place for the sweets, savouries and snacks near Krishna’s Simhasan.
“Perfect. Everything is perfect. But I must add a special touch to our Annakoot” says Radha to herself. And in a divine moment of inspiration, she makes four big gujiyas and etches the Shankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma on them. She then creates a big circular gujiya – a Shikhar Gunja – to symbolise Krishna’s face. Radha places the Shikhar Gunja on top of the mound of white rice and tucks the other four gunjas on four sides. She then places the Tulsi mala around it and sprinkles saffron water on the entire Annakoot.
The gopas rejoice at the sight before them. Yet they wonder. Would Krishna accept their humble offerings? But they brush aside all their doubts. There was no time to think of such things now. It was time to invite Krishna for their yagna. They are halfway down the lane when they hear the sweet notes of Krishna’s flute wafting through the air. They all turn around slowly. And find to their utter surprise that Krishna has already taken his seat in their yagna.
The Vrajwasis are overwhelmed with joy. Krishna had accepted their humble gifts and efforts with grace. Krishna was so touched by their Bhakti that He had not even waited for an invitation to feast on their Annakoot. And that alone was enough for them. More than enough.
The essence of Annakoot
Yes, the Annakoot is our yagna for Krishna. We make a humble attempt to recreate the Bhaav and Bhakti of the Vrajwasis when we offer our seva for the Annakoot preparations. And during the Annakoot darshan, we express our gratitude to Krishna for all that He always does for us. And we hope that Krishna will emerge out of the Annakoot, the yagnavedi, with His Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma, wearing His beloved Tulsi Mala around his neck and absolve us of all the sins that we had knowingly or unknowingly committed in the past year.
Photos taken by: Aditi and Teerth.
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