Hindu New Year

The Hindu New Year is celebrated the day after Diwali. It is one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar, and is often celebrated eagerly with food, gifts, and devotion to God.

The term ‘annakut’ literally translates to a “mountain of food.” Many Hindus prepare rich, tasty vegetarian food and offer it to God. For many Vaishnavs (devotees of Lord Krishna), the ‘Govardhan puja’ is where they prepare and offer all of the vegetarian food to murtis (images) of Krishna. For Swaminarayans (devotees of Lord Swaminarayan), the assortment of vegetarian food is presented to the murti of Lord Swaminarayan. This is often done by singing religious songs to God, and later giving out the food to devotees and visitors of the mandir (Hindu temple). Below are pictures of the “mountain of food” in the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden and Leicester.