In short
- Govardhan Puja 2026
- Tuesday, 10 November 2026
- Tithi
- Kartik Shukla PratipadaKartika Shukla Pratipada (amanta)
- Observed for
- Gratitude for food, cattle and the land
What is it? The fourth day of Deepavali, on Kartika Shukla Pratipada.
Why do families keep it? Krishna lifted Govardhan hill on his little finger for seven days to shelter the people and cows of Braj from Indra’s rains.
What happens on the day? A Govardhan of cow dung or clay in the courtyard, go-puja, parikrama of the hill, and the annakut offering shared as prasada.
When to observe Govardhan Puja in 2026
| Pratipada tithi begins | Mon, 9 Nov, 12:32 PM |
|---|---|
| Pratipada tithi ends | Tue, 10 Nov, 02:00 PM |
| Sunrise | 06:40 AM |
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:43 AM – 12:26 PM |
| Sunset | 05:30 PM |
| Rahu Kaala — keep aside | 02:47 PM – 04:09 PM |
What Govardhan Puja means
Worship what feeds you
Krishna told Braj to worship the hill that gave grass to their cows and the cows that gave them milk, rather than Indra. The day is a thanksgiving for the land.
Annakut
Temples and homes cook 56 dishes (chhappan bhog) or as many as they can, heaped like a hill before Krishna and then shared with everyone.
Same day, other names
In Karnataka and the South it is Bali Padyami; in Maharashtra Diwali Padwa; in Gujarat the New Year (Bestu Varas).
Krishna lifts Govardhan
Who is in it: Sri Krishna, Nanda, The people of Braj, Indra
Every year the cowherds of Braj made a great offering to Indra for the rains. Young Krishna asked his father Nanda why.
It is the hill that feeds our cows, Krishna said, and the cows that feed us. Let us worship Govardhan. The people agreed and offered their food to the hill.
Indra, insulted, sent clouds that poured rain for seven days and nights.
Krishna lifted Govardhan on the little finger of his left hand like an umbrella, and all of Braj — people and cattle — sheltered beneath it.
Indra saw who Krishna was, stopped the rain and bowed to him. Krishna came to be called Govardhanadhari.
What it teaches: Respect what sustains you; humility outlasts pride.
Govardhan Puja puja at home, step by step
Getting ready
- 1Clean the courtyard; shape a small Govardhan hill with cow dung or clay, with figures of Krishna, cows and cowherds.
- 2Cook as many dishes as you can for the annakut.
The puja
- 1Worship the Govardhan with roli, rice, flowers, milk, curd and a lamp.
- 2Walk around it seven times (parikrama), sprinkling water or milk.
- 3Worship the cows: wash them, apply tilak, garland them and feed them.
- 4Offer the annakut to Krishna, then do aarti.
Closing the puja
- 1Share the annakut prasada with family, neighbours and the needy.
What to keep ready for Govardhan Puja
Must have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Cow dung or clay | For the hill | Govardhan figure |
| Roli, rice, flowers, milk, curd | A little of each | Puja |
| Lamp and incense | 1 each | Aarti |
| Cooked dishes, sweets, vegetables | As many as you can | Annakut |
Good to have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grass and jaggery | — | For the cows |
Family and regional customs
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Kadhi-chawal and mixed vegetable (annakut ki sabzi) | — | Braj homes |
Good practice, and what to avoid
Please do
- Feed cows and the hungry.
- Share the annakut widely.
Best avoided
- Waste the prasada.
Chants for Govardhan Puja
Govardhan prayer
गोवर्धन धराधार गोकुलत्राणकारक।
विष्णुबाहुकृतोच्छ्राय गवां कोटिप्रदो भव॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಗೋವರ್ಧನ ಧರಾಧಾರ ಗೋಕುಲತ್ರಾಣಕಾರಕ।
ವಿಷ್ಣುಬಾಹುಕೃತೋಚ್ಛ್ರಾಯ ಗವಾಂ ಕೋಟಿಪ್ರದೋ ಭವ॥
govardhana dharādhāra gokulatrāṇakāraka| viṣṇubāhukṛtocchrāya gavāṃ koṭiprado bhava||
What it means: Govardhan, support of the earth, protector of Gokula, raised high by Vishnu’s arm — grant us cattle in plenty.
Govardhan Puja from region to region
Braj (Mathura, Vrindavan)
Parikrama of the real Govardhan hill and grand annakut in the temples.
Gujarat
Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year, on the same day.
Karnataka
Bali Padyami with go-puja.
Have the Govardhan Puja puja done for you
Two ways to do it. At a temple: the pandit takes your family’s name and gotra in the sankalpa and sends you the photos and video. At home: a pandit from our panel comes to you with the vidhi, and you sit for the puja yourself.
Where this comes from
- Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, chapters 24–25.
How we work out the dates: Stuti Mandir’s own panchanga engine places the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa) and checks the tithi against sunrise, sunset and moonrise in Delhi, in IST. A printed panchanga may differ by a minute or so. Where your family’s panchanga or your purohita says otherwise, go with them.
Questions devotees ask us
When is Govardhan Puja 2026?
Tuesday, 10 November 2026. In Delhi, Kartika Shukla Pratipada (amanta; Kartik Shukla Pratipada in the North Indian count) begins Mon, 9 Nov, 12:32 PM and ends Tue, 10 Nov, 02:00 PM IST.
Will Mysuru and Delhi keep Govardhan Puja on the same day?
Mostly yes. But the sun rises and sets at different times in different towns, and a habba is kept on the day its tithi is running at the right hour — so timings shift, and once in a while the date does too. Change the town above to see yours.
Is Govardhan Puja the same day as Bali Padyami?
Yes — both fall on Kartika Shukla Pratipada, the day after Deepavali Amavasya. Some years the gap is two days when Amavasya spans two sunrises.
Can I book a pandit for Govardhan Puja?
Yes. A Stuti Mandir pandit can do the Govardhan and Krishna puja at home; WhatsApp us to arrange it.