Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, two days after Diwali.
Also known as Annakut Puja, the festival honours Lord Krishna and is observed with special prayers and food offerings.
In New Delhi, the morning puja muhurat will be from 6:40 am to 8:50 am.
But why is a hill central to this festival? What does cow dung have to do with its rituals? And why do devotees prepare elaborate food offerings?
The answers lie in a story that continues to shape how Govardhan Puja is celebrated across India.
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When Is Govardhan Puja In 2026? Date, Tithi And Puja Timing
Govardhan Puja will take place on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
The festival is observed on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, which follows the new moon day of Diwali. However, Govardhan Puja does not always fall immediately after Diwali. Its date depends on the timing of the lunar tithi and the traditional rules followed to determine the festival.
Here are the important dates and timings for Govardhan Puja 2026 in New Delhi:
Festival: Govardhan Puja
Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Tithi: Kartik Shukla Pratipada
Pratipada Tithi begins: 12:31 pm on Monday, 9 November
Pratipada Tithi ends: Around 2 pm on Tuesday, 10 November
Morning puja muhurat: 6:40 am to 8:50 am
Evening puja: Some traditions also observe an evening muhurat.
These timings are for New Delhi. The exact muhurat may vary by city, so devotees should consult a local panchang for their location.
Some 2026 government holiday calendars list Govardhan Puja on 9 November. However, the sunrise-based panchang calculation places the festival on 10 November, when Pratipada prevails at sunrise. For the religious observance, devotees should follow the applicable local panchang.
Why Is Govardhan Puja Celebrated?
Govardhan Puja commemorates Lord Krishna's protection of the people of Vrindavan and their cattle from torrential rain.
The festival is associated with gratitude towards nature, respect for the land and appreciation for the resources that sustain life. The Govardhan Hill, which features prominently in the festival's traditional story, is regarded as a source of nourishment for the people and animals of the region.
The festival also highlights Krishna's role as a protector. Devotees remember how he sheltered the people of Vrindavan and challenged their dependence on fear-driven rituals.
Food plays an important part in the celebrations. Families prepare a range of dishes and offer them to Krishna as a gesture of devotion and gratitude.
Govardhan Puja is also known as Annakut, a name that refers to a mountain of food. The practice of preparing and offering a large variety of dishes is central to the festival in several temples.
The Story Behind Govardhan Puja
The story of Govardhan Puja comes from Hindu religious tradition and is closely associated with Lord Krishna's childhood in Vrindavan.
According to the traditional account, the residents of Vrindavan worshipped Indra, the god associated with rain and thunderstorms, to seek his blessings for rainfall and agricultural prosperity.
Krishna questioned this practice. He encouraged the villagers to honour Govardhan Hill instead, recognising its importance to their daily lives. The hill provided resources that supported the community and its cattle.
Indra was angered by the villagers' decision and sent torrential rain towards Vrindavan.
As the rain intensified, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on his little finger. He invited the villagers and their cattle to take shelter beneath it.
According to the story, Krishna held the hill aloft for seven days, protecting the community from the storm. Indra eventually recognised Krishna's power and withdrew the rainfall.
The episode is remembered as a demonstration of Krishna's protective role and a reminder of the importance of humility.
Govardhan Puja commemorates this event. Devotees worship Krishna, honour Govardhan Hill and prepare food offerings as part of the celebrations.
How Is Govardhan Puja Celebrated Across India?
Govardhan Puja is observed through prayers, food offerings and community rituals. Customs differ across regions, but the worship of Krishna and the tradition of Annakut remain important features.
Mathura And Vrindavan
Mathura and Vrindavan, which are closely associated with Krishna's life in Hindu tradition, are important centres of Govardhan Puja celebrations.
Devotees visit temples, offer prayers and participate in rituals dedicated to Krishna. Govardhan Hill, in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh, also attracts pilgrims who perform Govardhan Parikrama, a circumambulation of the sacred hill.
Temples prepare extensive food offerings, with devotees gathering for darshan and the distribution of prasad.
Gujarat
In Gujarat, Govardhan Puja coincides with traditions associated with the Gujarati New Year, also known as Bestu Varas, in years when the relevant calendar dates align.
Families offer prayers, visit temples and prepare festive meals. Annakut offerings are an important part of celebrations at several Krishna temples.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, the day is associated with Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. This observance recalls the traditional story of King Bali and Vamana, an incarnation of Vishnu.
Although these traditions fall on the same lunar date in the calendar, their religious stories and specific customs differ from those associated with Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill.
Other Parts Of India
In several other regions, families worship Krishna, prepare special meals and honour cattle.
Some communities create symbolic representations of Govardhan Hill, while temples arrange elaborate displays of food. These traditions allow families and communities to celebrate the festival together.
Why Do People Use Cow Dung During Govardhan Puja?
One distinctive Govardhan Puja tradition involves making a small representation of Govardhan Hill using cow dung.
The practice recalls the hill at the centre of Krishna's story. Families shape the material into a mound and decorate it with flowers, leaves and other offerings before performing puja.
Cow dung has traditionally been used in rural Indian households for purposes such as preparing earthen surfaces and making fuel. Cattle also have an important place in agricultural life, providing milk and supporting farming communities.
Within Govardhan Puja, the cow-dung mound serves as a symbolic representation of the sacred hill. The ritual connects the festival's religious story with traditional practices involving cattle, land and rural life.
Not every household follows the same custom. Some devotees create a symbolic hill using other materials or focus on temple worship and food offerings.
The practice should not be confused with Annakut, which refers to the preparation and offering of a large collection of food.
Which God Do People Worship On Govardhan Puja?
Lord Krishna is the principal deity worshipped during Govardhan Puja.
Devotees remember him as the protector who lifted Govardhan Hill to shelter the people of Vrindavan from Indra's storm.
Govardhan Hill itself is also worshipped because of its association with Krishna and the protection it represents in the traditional story.
In some traditions, devotees honour cows and cattle as part of the celebrations. This reflects their religious significance and their historical role in supporting agricultural households.
Indra is an important figure in the story behind the festival, but the central worship of Govardhan Puja focuses on Krishna and Govardhan Hill.
When Does The Govardhan Puja Take Place?
Govardhan Puja is traditionally performed on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright lunar fortnight in the month of Kartik.
The date is determined using the Hindu lunar calendar rather than a fixed Gregorian date. As a result, the festival falls on different dates each year.
In 2026, the festival will be observed on Tuesday, 10 November.
In New Delhi, the morning puja muhurat is from 6:40 am to 8:50 am. Some traditions also perform the worship in the evening.
Devotees typically clean and prepare the place of worship, arrange flowers and other offerings, and perform prayers to Krishna. Families observing the cow-dung mound tradition prepare it before the puja.
The Annakut offering may be prepared at home or at a temple. Once the food has been offered, it is distributed as prasad among devotees.
The precise sequence of rituals varies by family, region and religious tradition.
What Is The Significance Of Govardhan Puja?
Govardhan Puja carries several layers of religious and cultural significance.
A Reminder Of Krishna's Protection
The festival recalls Krishna's role in protecting the people of Vrindavan. The story remains central to the way devotees understand his relationship with the community.
Gratitude Towards Nature
Govardhan Hill represents the natural resources that sustain life. The festival encourages gratitude for the land, rainfall, vegetation and resources that support people and animals.
The Importance Of Food
The Annakut tradition places food at the centre of the celebration. Devotees prepare a variety of dishes and offer them to Krishna before sharing the food with others.
The ritual also reflects the importance of food in religious worship and community life.
Respect For Cattle
Cows and cattle feature in the festival's traditions because of their association with Krishna and their role in traditional agriculture. In some communities, cattle are decorated and worshipped as part of the celebrations.
Humility And Faith
The story of Krishna and Indra is also remembered as a lesson in humility. Indra's storm and Krishna's response form the basis of a narrative about pride, devotion and the recognition of a power greater than one's own.
For devotees, these traditions make Govardhan Puja more than a date on the festive calendar. They connect the story of Krishna with food, nature, cattle and community worship.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
When is Govardhan Puja in 2026?
Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
What is the puja muhurat for Govardhan Puja 2026?
In New Delhi, the morning puja muhurat is from 6:40 am to 8:50 am. Timings may vary by location.
Which tithi is observed for Govardhan Puja?
The festival is observed on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright lunar fortnight in Kartik.
Why is Govardhan Puja celebrated?
The festival commemorates the story of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Vrindavan from heavy rain sent by Indra.
Which god is worshipped during Govardhan Puja?
Lord Krishna is the principal deity worshipped. Govardhan Hill is also honoured.
What is Annakut?
Annakut refers to a mountain of food. Devotees prepare a variety of dishes and offer them to Krishna during the festival.
Why do people make a hill using cow dung?
The cow-dung mound symbolically represents Govardhan Hill and forms part of the traditional worship in some households.
How is Govardhan Puja celebrated?
Celebrations include Krishna worship, food offerings, Annakut, symbolic representations of Govardhan Hill and, in some communities, rituals honouring cattle.
Is Govardhan Puja always celebrated the day after Diwali?
Not necessarily. The date depends on the lunar tithi and the rules used to determine the observance. In 2026, Govardhan Puja falls on 10 November, two calendar days after Diwali on 8 November.
