KATHMANDU: Govardhan Puja, the worshipping of Govardhan hill is being observed throughout the country today on the fourth day of the five-day-long Tihar festival.

The Govardhan Puja rituals are being observed today with the replicas of the Govardhan Mountain made out of the cow dung. People prepare a mixture of the cow dung and ochre formed into a paste and apply on the courtyard of their homes and on the floors today.

The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Sri Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Mount Govardhan by his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by Indra, the king of Svarga (Heaven) and the Devas. He is also the god of lightning, thunder, storms, rains and river flows.

It is believed that the God of rain was angered and thereby caused the heavy downpour.

Goru Puja (ox worship) is also attended today as it is a very useful animal in different agricultural works in Nepal which is a predominantly agricultural society.

(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)