Govardhan Puja 2026

Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut, is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Pratipada — the day after Diwali. It commemorates Lord Krishna's lifting of Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shelter the people and cattle of Vrindavan from the devastating rains sent by an angered Indra. The event, described in the Bhagavata Purana, marks a pivotal moment where Krishna redirected worship from Indra towards the land and nature that directly sustained the community.

The celebration centres on the preparation of Annakut — a mountain of food offerings (sometimes comprising 56 or 108 dishes) presented to Krishna. Temples, especially in Nathdwara (Rajasthan), Mathura, and Vrindavan, create spectacular food mountains. Devotees also build small hillocks of cow dung to represent Govardhan Hill, decorate them with flowers, and perform parikrama (circumambulation).

The panchang requires Pratipada tithi to be active during the Pratah kala (morning) for Govardhan Puja. Since this immediately follows the Diwali Amavasya, the tithi transition from Amavasya to Pratipada must be checked. In some years the transition occurs late, and regional calendars may differ on whether Govardhan Puja falls on the same day as Diwali evening celebrations or the next morning.

The festival carries an ecological and egalitarian message — Krishna taught that the hill, the cows, and the harvest are worthy of worship, not a distant sky-god demanding tribute out of fear. It is a celebration of gratitude towards nature and community self-reliance.