Govardhan Puja 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, Annakut and Significance
Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut, is the fourth day of the five-day Diwali festival. In 2026, Govardhan Puja falls on Tuesday, 10 November, on the first day (Pratipada) of the bright fortnight of Kartika. On this day, devotees worship Govardhan Hill, the hill Lord Krishna is believed to have lifted to shelter the people of Vrindavan, and offer a mountain of food, the Annakut, to the Lord as thanks for his protection.
When Is Govardhan Puja in 2026?
Govardhan Puja 2026 is on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. It is observed on Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha), of Kartika. Pratipada begins at 12:31 PM on Monday, 9 November, and because it is still in force at sunrise on Tuesday, 10 November, the festival is observed that morning in North India. Govardhan Puja comes two days after Diwali, which falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and one day before Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November.
Govardhan Puja 2026 Date and Puja Muhurat
The timings below follow the India (IST) reference published by Drik Panchang. Morning timings shift from city to city because sunrise changes with location, so check a local panchang for your exact timings.
| Event | Date and Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Govardhan Puja (Annakut) | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Hindu date | Kartik Shukla Pratipada |
| Also known as | Annakut, Bali Pratipada, Padwa |
| Pratipada tithi begins | 12:31 PM, Monday, 9 November 2026 |
| Pratipada tithi ends | 2:00 PM, Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Pratahkal puja muhurat (New Delhi) | 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM, Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Muhurat duration | 2 hours 10 minutes |
| Sayankal (evening) muhurat | None in 2026, because Pratipada ends at 2:00 PM |
| Desi date | 25 Kattak, 2083 BS (Kattak runs 17 October to 15 November 2026) |
Govardhan Puja Muhurat in Indian Cities
The morning puja should be done during the Pratahkal muhurat, in the first hours after sunrise while Pratipada is running. Because sunrise times differ, the muhurat window is different in each city.
| City | Pratahkal Puja Muhurat (IST) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM |
| Ujjain | 6:41 AM to 8:53 AM |
Note: these are Drik Panchang timings for Tuesday, 10 November 2026. Check a local panchang if your city is not listed.
What Is Govardhan Puja?
The story of Govardhan Puja comes from the Bhagavata Purana. The people of Vrindavan, a village in Braj, used to offer a grand feast every year to Lord Indra, the god of rain, in thanks for the rains that watered their crops and pastures. As a young boy, Lord Krishna asked them why they worshipped Indra when it was Govardhan Hill that gave them grass for their cattle, water from its streams, and shelter from the weather. The villagers agreed and began worshipping the hill instead.
Angered, Indra sent a terrible storm of rain and thunder over Vrindavan for seven days and nights. To protect the villagers and their cattle, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on the little finger of his left hand and held it up like an umbrella while everyone sheltered beneath it. When Indra saw his storm could do nothing, he withdrew, and the people celebrated the hill that had saved them.
Govardhan Puja remembers that day. The hill is worshipped as a form of Lord Krishna himself, and the festival is a thanksgiving for nature, for the cattle that sustain village life, and for divine protection in hard times.
What Is Annakut and Chappan Bhog?
Govardhan Puja is also called Annakut, which means a mountain of food. In temples and homes, devotees prepare a huge offering of vegetarian food, sweets, fruits, rice, lentils and vegetables, and arrange it in a mound in front of the deity, in the shape of Govardhan Hill.
The most famous Annakut offering is the Chappan Bhog, a feast of 56 dishes. The number 56 comes from the story of the seven days and nights Krishna held up the hill: he is said to have gone without his usual eight meals a day for seven days, which is 56 meals, and devotees offer him 56 dishes in return. In many temples, the Annakut is displayed for devotees to see and is then shared as prasad.
How Is Govardhan Puja Observed?
The observance is simple and is done at home or at a temple in the morning. Practices vary by family and region, so follow your family tradition.
Make a Govardhan Hill: In many homes, a small model of Govardhan Hill is made from cow dung, clay or mud, decorated with flowers, and placed in the courtyard or near the entrance. In temples, the deity is dressed and the Annakut is arranged before the morning aarti.
Morning puja: During the Pratahkal muhurat, worship Lord Krishna and Govardhan Hill with flowers, incense, lamps and sweets. Families often sing bhajans and recite the story of Krishna lifting the hill.
Annakut offering: Prepare vegetarian dishes and sweets, arrange them as a food mountain before the deity, and offer them with prayer. After the puja, the food is shared with family and neighbours as prasad.
Worship the cattle: In farming families, cows and bulls are washed, decorated with garlands and vermilion, and fed, because the festival honours the cattle that Govardhan Hill sustains.
Parikrama: In Mathura and Vrindavan, devotees walk the Govardhan Parikrama, the path around the hill, and visit its temples. Large crowds gather there every year for the festival.
Bali Pratipada: In Maharashtra and Karnataka, the same day is observed as Bali Pratipada or Padwa, marking the return of King Bali, and the start of the new year in some regional calendars. Families perform a ritual bath, worship the king, and exchange greetings.
The Five Days of Diwali 2026
Govardhan Puja is day four of five. The full festival runs as follows.
| Day | Festival | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Day 2 | Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) | Saturday, 7 November 2026 |
| Day 3 | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Day 4 | Govardhan Puja (Annakut) | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Day 5 | Bhai Dooj | Wednesday, 11 November 2026 |
Note: there is a gap day on Monday, 9 November, because Pratipada begins only at 12:31 PM that day. Some regional calendars observe Govardhan Puja on the evening of Monday, 9 November, but the North India (Drik Panchang) observance is Tuesday, 10 November. See our Diwali 2026 guide for the main festival, our Dhanteras 2026 guide for the first day, and our Bhai Dooj 2026 guide for the fifth day.
Govardhan Puja Dates in Coming Years
| Year | Day | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | 10 November 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday | 30 October 2027 |
Note: the 2027 date is the India reckoning from Drik Panchang (New Delhi). Some listings outside India give Friday, 29 October 2027, so confirm the 2027 date with a local panchang closer to the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Govardhan Puja in 2026?
Govardhan Puja 2026 falls on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. It is observed on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
What is the Govardhan Puja 2026 puja muhurat?
In New Delhi, the morning (Pratahkal) puja muhurat is 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM IST on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. There is no evening muhurat in 2026 because Pratipada ends at 2:00 PM. Timings vary by city, so check a local panchang for your city.
What is Govardhan Puja?
Govardhan Puja remembers the day Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shelter the people and cattle of Vrindavan from Lord Indra’s storm. Devotees worship the hill as a form of Krishna and give thanks for nature and divine protection.
What is Annakut?
Annakut means a mountain of food. Devotees prepare a large offering of vegetarian food, sweets, fruits and rice, arrange it in a mound before the deity in the shape of Govardhan Hill, and share it as prasad after the puja. The most famous offering is the Chappan Bhog, a feast of 56 dishes.
Why is Govardhan Puja celebrated two days after Diwali?
Govardhan Puja is the fourth day of the five-day Diwali festival. It falls on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight, which in 2026 is Tuesday, 10 November, two days after Diwali on Sunday, 8 November.
When is Govardhan Puja in 2027?
Govardhan Puja in 2027 falls on Saturday, 30 October 2027, in the India reckoning from Drik Panchang. Some listings outside India give Friday, 29 October 2027, so confirm the date with a local panchang closer to the time.
