Govardhan Puja 2026 is being observed on Tuesday, 10 November, on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the day after the Diwali amavasya. It celebrates the moment Lord Krishna, as the Bhagavata Purana tells it, lifted Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shelter the people of Braj. At home, families offer a mountain of food (Annakut), worship a hill made of cow dung and honour cows. (As of 10 November 2026.)
When is Govardhan Puja 2026? Date and muhurat
According to Drik Panchang’s New Delhi timings, the Pratahkala (morning) muhurat is 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM on 10 November. The Pratipada tithi begins at 12:31 PM on 9 November and ends at 2:00 PM on 10 November.
Many readers have seen two dates this year. DNA India explains that the puja is performed on 10 November because the tithi is present at sunrise that day. Brut notes that some 2026 government holiday calendars list 9 November, but the sunrise-based panchang places the festival on 10 November. Calendars computed for places outside India show 9 November, as Outlook India points out. Exact timings vary by city, so check a local panchang or your family priest.
What is Govardhan Puja celebrated for?
The festival rests on a story from the Bhagavata Purana. The cowherds near Govardhan used to honour Indra, the god of rain and storms, in the autumn season. Krishna persuaded them to worship the hill that fed their cattle instead. To shield the people and their cattle from the storms, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on his little finger, according to the account summarised on Wikipedia.
The message devotees draw from it is gratitude to nature, the hills and cattle that sustain life, and humility over ego. Govardhan Puja is also called Annakut, though Annakut is the larger day-long festival and the puja is one part of it.
Padwa, Bali Pratipada and other names for the same day
For readers in Maharashtra, the same tithi is Bali Pratipada, or Diwali Padwa. Drik Panchang says the day commemorates Vamana, an avatar of Vishnu, overcoming King Bali. By Vamana’s boon, Bali is believed to visit the earth on this day. Prokerala notes that in Maharashtra there is a tradition of men gifting presents to their wives. Drik Panchang adds that the day usually coincides with the Gujarati New Year.
How Govardhan Puja is observed at home
Practices differ by region and family, so treat the following as a common outline rather than a fixed rule:
- Make Govardhan. Families shape an image of the hill from cow dung, often with small cow figures and grass or twigs for trees and greenery.
- Prepare Annakut. Drik Panchang says food made of cereals such as wheat and rice, gram-flour curry and leafy vegetables is cooked and offered to Krishna. A mound of cooked grain often stands for the hill. In Mathura–Vrindavan, devotees offer a lavish chhappan bhog, according to an Akashvani report from 2024.
- Worship and offer. Pray to Govardhan and Krishna, then offer the bhog. Drik Panchang lists a Govardhan mantra and a Gau mantra for the day.
- Honour cows. People decorate and worship cows, and offering jaggery and rice to them is a tradition, per the Akashvani report.
- Share the prasad. The offered food is shared with family and neighbours.
Many devotees also visit temples for Annakut darshan, and in Braj some perform the Govardhan parikrama.
Key details
| Date | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Tithi | Kartik Shukla Pratipada |
| Pratipada begins | 12:31 PM, 9 November |
| Pratipada ends | 2:00 PM, 10 November |
| Morning muhurat (New Delhi) | 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM |
| Also known as | Annakut, Bali Pratipada, Padwa |
| Diwali 2026 (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday, 8 November |
| Bhai Dooj | Wednesday, 11 November |
FAQ
Is Govardhan Puja on 9 or 10 November 2026?
In India it is 10 November, as the Pratipada tithi is present at sunrise that day. Some calendars, especially those for countries abroad, show 9 November.
Is Govardhan Puja the same as Diwali?
No. Diwali’s Lakshmi Puja falls on the amavasya, 8 November this year. Govardhan Puja is a separate day in the same five-day festival.
What is Annakut?
Annakut means a “mountain of food”. Devotees cook a large variety of dishes and offer them to Krishna, symbolising the hill.
What is Govardhan Puja called in Maharashtra?
It coincides with Bali Pratipada, popularly called Diwali Padwa, when Maharashtrian households also mark the day with gifts between spouses.
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