Annabishekam

In South India Ipasi month Purnima is celebrated as Annabishekam in all Shiva temples. People contribute Rice, Dal, Jaggery in temples. On that day they also give fruits, Vegetables, Flowers. Rice is cooked in large quantities. In the evening Abhishekam is performed for Shiva and the lingam is covered with Rice, different kinds of Vegetables and Sweets. Devotees go to worship this form of Shiva as it is believed that by going to temple on this day there will be abundance of food and happiness at home. Prasadam is distributed.
In North India the day after Diwali is celebrated as Govarshan Puja or Annakut. In Braj to save the cows and people from the anger of Indra Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Mountain. The mountain is decorated with colourful flags and people do Govardhan Giri Pradhakshanam. People prepare dishes with different kinds of Vegetables, rice and are placed in front of the mountain. Lord Krishna's idol is placed in the middle. Puja is held and prasad is distributed. The story behind this celebration goes as follows:
One day Krishna along with his friends and cows reached Govardhan Mountain. Lord Krishna saw lots of Different varieties of food are kept and some preparations were going on. On enquiry he came to know that the puja is for Lord Indra who is the god of rain. They believed that with good rain, there will be good harvest and happiness. Lord Krishna explained the importance of Govardhan mountain and instead of Indra asked them to worship Govardhan mountain. The cattle was fed green grass and the people worshipped Govardhan Mountain. They also did parikrama or pradikhshina of the mountain. To prove Lord Krishna took a virat form and ate all the offerings. Everybody thought Lord Krishna is only Govardhan Mountain and did salutaion.
Indra got angry and sent thunder storms to braj. People thought that since they did not worship Lord Indra, he will destroy them. To protect the people from the storm Lord Krishna lifted the mountain on his little finger and the whole village gathered under the mountain. For seven consecutive days there was storm but Lord Indra could not harm the people of Braj. Eventually Indra got tired and stopped the storms. Indra realised his mistake and asked Lord Krishna to pardon him. Since then Krishna is called Giuridhari. "GO" means cow and Earth and to protect both is our Dharma and Duty also.
In Varanasi, in Kashi and Annapoorna temple this festival is held in a grand scale.