Govardhan Puja 2026 today or tomorrow: Is it on November 9 or 10? Check correct date, puja muhurat and timings

Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, a day after Diwali, according to the sunrise-based Panchang observance followed in New Delhi and Kolkata. The Hindu festival falls on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik, and commemorates Lord Krishna's lifting of Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Braj and their cattle from torrential rain.

The festival is also known as Annakut, meaning a mountain or heap of food. Devotees prepare a variety of dishes and offer them to Lord Krishna as a mark of gratitude. The food is arranged in a mound-like formation and distributed as prasad after the rituals.

Govardhan Puja 2026: Date and puja muhurat

Govardhan Puja falls on November 10, 2026. However, some online calendars list the festival on November 9, leading to confusion over the date.


According to Drik Panchang, the Pratipada Tithi begins at 12:31 PM on November 9 and ends at 2:00 PM on November 10. Since the tithi is present at sunrise on November 10, the main observance is listed on that date under the sunrise-based calendar followed in New Delhi and Kolkata.

The indicative morning puja muhurat for New Delhi is from 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM, while devotees in Kolkata can perform the puja between 5:46 AM and 8:00 AM.

Govardhan Puja 2026: Important dates and timings

Details	Date and timing
Govardhan Puja	Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Pratipada Tithi begins	November 9, 12:31 PM
Pratipada Tithi ends	November 10, 2:00 PM
New Delhi morning puja muhurat	6:40 AM to 8:50 AM
Kolkata morning puja muhurat	5:46 AM to 8:00 AM

The puja timings are location-specific. Devotees should check their local Panchang before performing the rituals.

Why is Govardhan Puja 2026 listed on November 9 and November 10?

The difference in dates arises from the timing of the Pratipada Tithi and the rules followed to determine the festival's observance. While some general holiday calendars list November 9, Panchang-based calendars such as Drik Panchang list November 10 for the main observance in New Delhi and Kolkata.

The Pratipada Tithi starts at 12:31 PM on November 9 and continues until 2:00 PM on November 10. Since it prevails at sunrise on November 10, that date is followed for Govardhan Puja under the sunrise-based observance.

Devotees should follow the Panchang applicable to their location and the traditions followed by their family or temple.

What is Govardhan Puja? Meaning and significance

Govardhan Puja is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is worshipped on this occasion as Govardhandhari, meaning the one who lifted Govardhan Hill.

According to Hindu tradition, Krishna lifted the hill to shelter the people of Braj and their cattle from a severe storm sent by Lord Indra. The act is remembered as a symbol of divine protection and devotion.

Govardhan Hill, also known as Giriraj, is located in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district and holds religious significance in Vaishnava traditions. The hill is closely associated with Braj, the region linked to Krishna's childhood and early life.

The name Govardhan is commonly interpreted through the Sanskrit words go, meaning cow, and vardhana, meaning nourishment or increase. The festival therefore also reflects the importance of cattle, agriculture and the natural resources that sustain life.

Its observance carries several themes:

• Devotion to Lord Krishna: The festival commemorates Krishna's protection of the people of Braj and his act of lifting Govardhan Hill.
• Gratitude towards nature: The story highlights the importance of hills, forests, land and water as resources that support life.
• Respect for cattle: Cows and other cattle are worshipped in several traditions because of their association with agriculture and nourishment.
• Gratitude for food: The Annakut offering represents appreciation for food and the resources required to produce it.
• Humility and devotion: The traditional account of Krishna and Indra is also remembered as a lesson about pride, humility and recognising the sources of one's sustenance.

How is Govardhan Puja celebrated?

Govardhan Puja is observed through different customs across India, with a particularly strong association with Mathura, Vrindavan and the wider Braj region.

Devotees prepare Annakut offerings, worship Lord Krishna and, in many traditions, create symbolic representations of Govardhan Hill using food or cow dung. The offerings are arranged in a mound-like formation and presented to the deity before being distributed as prasad.

Other observances include worshipping cows, performing Govardhan Parikrama and visiting temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. The rituals and food offerings may differ across regions and households, but the central themes of devotion, gratitude and respect for nature remain common.