Padwa
The day following the Amavasya of Diwali is Kartik Shuddh Padwa. Legend has it that it was on this day that the powerful and most respected King Bali came out of Pathal loka and Became ruler of Bhuloka as per a boon granted to him by Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is also known as Bali Padyami. This day is also remembered in history as the day when King Vikramaditya was coronated and Vikram Samwat was started from this Padwa day.
One unique aspect of Gudi Padhwa is that it is symbolic of the love between a husband and a wife. On this day, the very strong ties of matrimony are celebrated as people invite young couples to their house for special meals. The couple is also given presents. In older times, it was customary for the brother to fetch his sister and brother-in-law and feed them in his own house to ensure that he had good luck for the next year.
Govardhan Puja
In North India, Govardhan Puja is performed on this day. Govardhan is a small hillock in Braj, near Mathura. On this day, the people of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar build Cow dung hillocks, decorate them with flowers and then worship them. The festival is celebrated in the memory of Lord Krishna lifting the Mount Govardhan. As per the Vishnu-Puran, the people of Gokul use to celebrate a festival in honor of Lord Indra and worshipped him after every monsoon season. However, one particular year, the mischievous young Krishna stopped them from offering their prayers and Lord Indra in a fit of anger sent a deluge to submerge Gokul.
People were worried that the terrible downpour was a result of their neglect of Lord Indra. But Krishna assured them that no harm would befall them. He lifted Mount Govardhan with his little finger and sheltered men and beasts from the rain. This gave him the epithet Govardhandhari. After this, Indra accepted the supremacy of Krishna.
This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning mountain of food. Pious people keep awake the whole night and cook fifty-six or 108 different types of food for the bhog (the offering of food) to Krishna. In temples especially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milk bath, dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties of delicious sweets are ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the deities as "Bhog" and then the devotees approach the Mountain of Food and take Prasad from it.
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