Govardhan Puja 2026 is on Tuesday, 10 November. It is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, after Diwali. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Shri Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan to shelter Braj from Indra’s rains. On this day a Govardhan is shaped from cow dung, worshipped and walked around, and the Lord is offered the Annakut bhog.
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Diwali 2026 dates: Dhanteras 6 November to Bhai Dooj 11 November
| Date | Festival | Time (New Delhi) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 November Friday | Dhanteras | 6:03–7:58 PM Puja muhurat |
| 7 November Saturday, night | Kali Chaudas | 11:39 PM–12:31 AM Nishita Kaal |
| 8 November Sunday, dawn | Narak Chaturdashi | 5:41–6:38 AM Abhyang Snan |
| 8 November Sunday, evening | Diwali | 5:55–7:51 PM Lakshmi Puja |
| 10 November Tuesday | Govardhan Puja | 6:40–8:50 AM Pratahkala |
| 11 November Wednesday | Bhai Dooj | 1:10–3:20 PM Tilak (Aparahna) |
Times for New Delhi, by our calculation (checked against Drik Panchang); your city’s time is on each festival’s page. Amavasya lasts until 12:33 PM on 9 November, so Govardhan Puja is on 10 November.
At a glance
- Tithi
- Kartik Shukla Pratipada
- Also called
- Annakut; Bali Pratipada in Maharashtra and Karnataka
- Worshipped
- Shri Krishna, Mount Govardhan (Giriraj) and cows
- Main rites
- Puja and parikrama of Govardhan, Annakut bhog
- Story
- Shri Krishna lifts Govardhan (Bhagavata Purana 10.24–10.25)
- Gujarat
- New Year (Bestu Varas)
- Deepotsav
- Fourth day of the five-day festival
Govardhan Puja in place of Indra’s yajna
Shri Krishna’s proposal
Every year the people of Braj performed a yajna to Indra for rain. Shri Krishna said that Braj lives by its cows, forests and hills, so with the offerings gathered for Indra’s yajna, a yajna should be performed for the cows, the brahmanas and Mount Govardhan.
Bhagavata Purana 10.24The basis of the Annakut
In the same episode Shri Krishna says that many dishes should be cooked, from kheer to dal, and all the milk and curd be gathered. The offering of many dishes to the Lord in the Annakut is linked to this episode.
Bhagavata Purana 10.24.26"I am the hill"
During the puja, Shri Krishna took on a huge form and, saying "I am the hill", accepted the offerings. In Braj, Govardhan (Giriraj) is regarded as a form of Shri Krishna himself.
Bhagavata Purana 10.24; Braj traditionAt home and in temples
In North India, a Govardhan is shaped from cow dung in the courtyard, in many regions in the form of a reclining man. It is decorated with flowers and lamps, worshipped and walked around. In temples, the Lord is offered many kinds of dishes (the Annakut). In Braj, people walk the parikrama of Mount Govardhan, about 21 kilometres, and the Annakut at Nathdwara in Rajasthan is famous.
Bali Pratipada and the New Year
Bali Pratipada
In Maharashtra and Karnataka this day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada (Padwa), in memory of King Bali. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Vamana, the avatar of Vishnu, asked Bali for three steps of land and sent him to the Sutala world. In Maharashtra, Diwali Padwa is also a festival of husband and wife.
Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 8; traditionThe Gujarati New Year
In Gujarat, the new year of the Vikram Samvat begins on Kartik Shukla Pratipada; it is called Bestu Varas, and people greet one another with "Saal Mubarak".
TraditionHow to perform the puja
- Step 1
Morning preparation
After bathing, clean the courtyard or the puja place.
- Step 2
Making the Govardhan
Shape Mount Govardhan from cow dung and decorate it with flowers and lamps (folk tradition).
- Step 3
Puja
During the muhurat, worship Govardhan, Shri Krishna and the cows; offer water, milk, flowers, roli, akshat and a lamp.
- Step 4
The Annakut bhog
Cook many kinds of dishes, offer them to the Lord as bhog, then share the prasad.
- Step 5
Parikrama
Walk around the Govardhan figure; in Braj, people walk around Mount Govardhan itself.
Krishna, the lifter of Govardhan
According to the Bhagavata Purana, when, at Shri Krishna’s word, the people of Braj worshipped Mount Govardhan, the cows and the brahmanas instead of Indra, Indra was enraged. He sent the Samvartaka clouds of dissolution over Braj, and Braj began to drown in torrential rain, hail and storm. Then Shri Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan with one hand, as easily as a child picks up a mushroom, and all the people of Braj came under it with their cows. For seven days Shri Krishna stood holding up the hill. Indra’s pride was broken and he withdrew the clouds, and later he came and begged Shri Krishna’s forgiveness; Surabhi, the divine cow, and Indra anointed Shri Krishna and gave him the name "Govinda".
Bhagavata Purana 10.24–10.27Read the full kathaVerses
तस्माद् गवां ब्राह्मणानामद्रेश्चारभ्यतां मखः।य इन्द्रयागसम्भारास्तैरयं साध्यतां मखः॥इत्युक्त्वैकेन हस्तेन कृत्वा गोवर्धनाचलम्।दधार लीलया विष्णुश्छत्राकमिव बालकः॥Govardhan Puja: relations
See in the knowledge graphDeities, figures and sages 2
Scriptures and mantras 1
- Bhagavata Purana · Source of the story (Govardhan lila)Bhagavata Purana 10.24–10.27
Tirths and places 1
- Mount Govardhan · Hill worshippedBhagavata Purana 10.24
Festivals 1
- Diwali · Main festivalTradition
Frequently asked questions
When is Govardhan Puja 2026?
On Tuesday, 10 November.
Is Govardhan Puja on 9 November or 10 November?
On 10 November (Tuesday). Pratipada tithi runs from 12:33 PM on 9 November to 2:01 PM on 10 November. Govardhan Puja is traditionally done in the morning (Pratahkala) during Pratipada; the morning of 9 November is still Amavasya, so the puja is on the morning of 10 November (New Delhi 6:40–8:50 AM).
What is the difference between Govardhan Puja and Annakut?
There is none; they are two names for the same day. On this day the Lord is offered many dishes, called the Annakut (a mountain of food).
Why is there sometimes a one-day gap between Diwali and Govardhan Puja?
Govardhan Puja is performed in the morning on Kartik Shukla Pratipada. When Diwali’s Amavasya continues into the next morning, the Pratipada puja is held on the day after that.
At what time is Govardhan Puja on 10 November?
Traditionally in the morning (Pratahkala), while Pratipada tithi lasts; in many places the puja is also done in the evening. Pratahkala muhurat on Tuesday, 10 November 2026: New Delhi 6:40–8:50 AM, Lucknow 6:22–8:33 AM, Jaipur 6:43–8:54 AM, Patna 6:03–8:15 AM, Chandigarh 6:45–8:54 AM, Indore 6:36–8:50 AM, Mumbai 6:43–8:59 AM, Kolkata 5:46–8:00 AM, Bengaluru 6:16–8:35 AM. For your city, choose it in the box above.
For how many days did Shri Krishna hold up Mount Govardhan?
According to the Bhagavata Purana (10.25), for seven days, without moving and without heeding hunger or thirst.
When are the five days of Diwali 2026?
Dhanteras on 6 November (Friday), the Narak Chaturdashi abhyang snan at dawn and Diwali in the evening of 8 November (Sunday), Govardhan Puja on 10 November (Tuesday) and Bhai Dooj on 11 November (Wednesday). The Kali Chaudas night puja is on 7 November (Drik Panchang).
Sources
- Bhagavata Purana 10.24–10.27 (the Govardhan lila)
- Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 8 (Vamana and Bali)
- Folk tradition
- Muhurat and moonrise: SanatanBodh panchang calculation, checked against Drik Panchang (New Delhi, 2026–27)
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