Govardhan Puja 2026: November 9 or 10? Check the Correct Date, Annakut Muhurat and Krishna's Govardhan Hill Story

Govardhan Puja will be observed on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, according to the New Delhi Panchang. The festival falls on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik. The festival is also known as Annakut, meaning a mountain of food, because devotees prepare and offer a variety of dishes to Lord Krishna.

Event	Date and Time
Govardhan Puja 2026	Tuesday, November 10
Pratipada Tithi Begins	November 9, 12:31 PM
Pratipada Tithi Ends	November 10, 2:00 PM
Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat	6:40 AM – 8:50 AM
Muhurat Duration	2 hours 10 minutes

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Why Is Govardhan Puja Celebrated?

Govardhan Puja is celebrated to honour Lord Krishna's protection of the people of Braj and his lesson about respecting nature, the land and the resources that sustain life.


According to Hindu tradition, the people of Gokul worshipped Lord Indra, the god of rain, to seek his blessings for good rainfall and prosperity. Krishna encouraged them to worship Govardhan Hill instead, as it provided grass for cattle, supported agriculture and sustained their livelihoods.

Indra became angry when the people followed Krishna's advice and sent torrential rain to punish them. Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on his little finger and sheltered the people and their cattle beneath it.

The festival commemorates this event and is observed through Govardhan Puja, Annakut offerings, prayers and, in some regions, the worship of cows.

The Story of Lord Krishna Lifting Govardhan Hill

The story of Govardhan Puja is rooted in the childhood of Lord Krishna in Braj.

Krishna Encourages the People of Braj to Worship Govardhan

The people of Gokul traditionally performed a yajna to worship Lord Indra, seeking his blessings for rainfall and prosperity.

Krishna questioned the practice and explained that Govardhan Hill, the forests, the land and the cattle directly supported their lives. He encouraged the villagers to express gratitude to Govardhan Hill and the natural resources that sustained them.

The people accepted Krishna's advice and performed Govardhan Puja instead of the traditional Indra yajna.

Indra Sends Torrential Rain

Angered by the villagers' decision, Indra unleashed heavy rain, thunder and storms over Braj. The rainfall threatened the lives of the villagers and their cattle.

Seeing their distress, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill with the little finger of his left hand. He asked the people to take shelter beneath the hill.

Krishna Protects Braj for Seven Days

Krishna held Govardhan Hill aloft for seven days and nights, protecting the people and cattle from the storm.

Indra eventually realised Krishna's divine power and withdrew the rain. The people of Braj were safe, and Krishna's act became a symbol of divine protection, humility and the importance of respecting nature.

The event is remembered through Govardhan Puja, when devotees worship Govardhan Hill and offer food to Lord Krishna.

What Is Annakut? Significance of the Food Offering

Annakut is one of the central observances of Govardhan Puja. The word comes from two Sanskrit terms: anna, meaning food or grain, and koot, meaning mountain or heap.

On this day, devotees prepare a variety of dishes and arrange them as a symbolic mountain of food before Lord Krishna.

The offering may include:

• Rice and other grains
• Seasonal vegetables
• Dal and kadhi
• Puri and other preparations
• Sweets such as ladoo, peda and halwa
• Fruits and other vegetarian dishes

In many Krishna temples, Annakut is presented as Chhappan Bhog, a traditional offering of 56 food items.

The food is offered to Krishna and later distributed among devotees as prasad. Annakut represents gratitude for food, agricultural abundance and the natural resources that sustain life.

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Govardhan Puja Rituals: How the Festival Is Observed

The rituals of Govardhan Puja vary across regions and households. In Braj, the festival is closely associated with the worship of Govardhan Hill, while temples often organise elaborate Annakut offerings.

1. Creating a Symbolic Govardhan Hill

Devotees create a small representation of Govardhan Hill using cow dung or clay. The structure may be decorated with flowers, leaves, small lamps and figures representing Krishna, cows and the people of Braj.

2. Offering Prayers to Govardhan

The symbolic hill is worshipped with flowers, roli, rice, water and other traditional offerings. Devotees pray for prosperity, protection and well-being.

3. Preparing Annakut

A variety of vegetarian dishes are prepared and offered to Lord Krishna. The offerings may be arranged in the form of a mountain, particularly in temples that observe Annakut on a large scale.

4. Performing Govardhan Parikrama

Devotees circumambulate the symbolic Govardhan Hill as part of the worship.

In Mathura and Vrindavan, many devotees also undertake the Govardhan Parikrama, a pilgrimage around the sacred hill associated with Krishna's divine act.

5. Worshipping Cows

Cows are honoured during Govardhan Puja because of their association with Krishna and their importance in the agricultural life of Braj.

Where customary, cows are bathed, decorated and offered food.

6. Sharing Annakut as Prasad

After the puja, the food offerings are distributed among devotees and family members as prasad.

Govardhan Puja 2026: Regional Significance

Govardhan Puja is observed in different ways across India.

Region	How the Festival Is Observed
Mathura and Vrindavan	Govardhan worship, Annakut offerings and Govardhan Parikrama
Rajasthan	Annakut celebrations and Krishna temple offerings
Gujarat	Govardhan Puja and Annakut; the day is also associated with Gujarati New Year celebrations in the broader festival calendar
Maharashtra	The day is observed as Bali Pratipada, also known as Padwa
Krishna Temples	Elaborate Annakut offerings, Krishna worship and distribution of prasad

In the Braj region, Govardhan Puja holds special significance because Govardhan Hill is directly associated with Krishna's childhood and divine activities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is Govardhan Puja in 2026?
   Govardhan Puja 2026 will be observed on Tuesday, November 10, according to the New Delhi Panchang. Some calendars list November 9, so devotees should check their local Panchang.
2. What is the Annakut Puja muhurat in 2026?
   The Pratahkala Govardhan Puja muhurat in New Delhi is from 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM on November 10, 2026. The timing may vary by location.
3. What is Annakut?
   Annakut means a mountain of food. Devotees prepare and offer a variety of dishes to Lord Krishna during Govardhan Puja. The food is later distributed as prasad.
4. Why did Krishna lift Govardhan Hill?
   Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to protect the people and cattle of Braj from torrential rain sent by Lord Indra. He held the hill on his little finger for seven days and nights, providing shelter until the storm ended.
5. Why is Govardhan Puja celebrated?
   Govardhan Puja commemorates Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Braj from heavy rain sent by Lord Indra. It also represents gratitude towards nature, food and the resources that sustain life.