Why Krishna is offered 56 types of food

 Offering food to God idols is a usual practice in Hinduism. The offering of food is referred to as bhog. Bhog is indeed offered to all gods, but the one offered to Sri Krishna is special in the sense that it includes 56 foods. This is commonly referred to as 'chhappan bhog', where chhappan implies fifty-six. Though various sources provide a various list as to what each dish is supposed to be, they all agree on the number 56. There is a reason for this.

When Sri Krishna was a young cowherd in Vrindavana, the people used to celebrate a festival at the end of the rainy season to commemorate Indra. He was the god of the clouds and of the waters. He sent clouds full of moisture from which rain poured on the earth, which caused grains and grasses to grow, on which human beings and cows lived. The cowherds used to celebrate this festival to thank Indra for the rains.

Krishna countered that they were cowherds and not land cultivators or merchants. Cows alone was their only wealth, and cows used to graze on the Govardhana Mountain. So a legitimate divinity worthy of worship by cowherds would be Govardhana. What connection had cowherds with Indra? The citizens of Vrindavana were in perfect accord and worshipped Govardhana and circumbulated it

Indra grew intensely displeased at being ignored for worship. He released big clouds and a dreadful storm upon Vrindavana. Lightning was visible, thunder thundered, and incessant rain poured. The Vrindavana cowherds and cows were much harassed by the rain. Quickly, there was a flood all around, and if something was not done at once, the people and cows would be drowned. Krishna placed the Govardhana Mountain in his hand and instructed all the cowherds to come underneath it, their cows, and take refuge from the rain. Rain fell for seven days and nights, but the cowherds blissfully sang songs in the shelter of the mountain. On the eighth day, Indra acknowledged defeat and stopped raining.

During those times, time was measured in terms of praharas, and one prahara consisted of three hours. Eight praharas existed in one day. Mother Devaki used to give Krishna food every prahara, so he was having eight meals a day. Krishna had been holding up the mountain for seven days, so it was 56 praharas. He did not drink or eat anything during this period. To replace that, Indra presented 56 varieties of food to calm Krishna down. According to some stories, Mother Devaki served 56 varieties of food to Krishna after he lowered the mountain. Ever since then, Sri Krishnahas always been presented with a chhappan bhog.