Govardhan Puja 2026: Date, Muhurat, Annakut & Govardhan Parikrama in Mathura
Govardhan Puja 2026 is on Tue, 10 Nov. Puja muhurat, why not 9 Nov, Annakut list, 21 km Govardhan Parikrama in Mathura & how all India celebrates it.
Last updated: 19 October 2026 · Written by our Ayodhya-based travel team
Short answer: Govardhan Puja (Annakut) 2026 is on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, two days after Diwali. Pratipada tithi runs from 12:31 PM on 9 November to 2:00 PM on 10 November. The main puja time is the morning muhurat, about 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM (Delhi), or about 6:36 to 8:48 AM in Mathura. Since Pratipada ends at 2 PM, finish the puja and Annakut offering before then. In Braj, devotees walk the 21 km Govardhan Parikrama and offer milk at Jatipura Mukharvind. In Gujarat the same day is the Gujarati New Year, and in Maharashtra and Karnataka it is Bali Pratipada / Padwa.
Key takeaways
- Govardhan Puja 2026: Tuesday, 10 November. There is no puja on 9 November because Diwali Amavasya runs into that day.
- Puja and Annakut should be done in the morning, before Pratipada ends at 2:00 PM.
- Biggest celebration: Govardhan in Mathura district, with the parikrama, milk abhishek and giant Annakuts.
- Same day, different names: Annakut, Bali Pratipada, Padwa, Bestu Varas (Gujarati New Year).
Govardhan Puja is the day after the lights. Diwali is over, the house still smells of ghee and sweets, and now it's Krishna's turn. In villages across UP and Bihar, women shape a small Govardhan out of cow dung in the courtyard. In temples, priests build a "mountain" of food, the Annakut. And in Braj, lakhs of people walk barefoot around the real Govardhan hill.
Most guides only give you the date and a short katha. This one covers all of it: why the date is the 10th and not the 9th, the exact puja timing, how to make the Govardhan at home, what goes into the Annakut, how to do the parikrama in Mathura, and how the day is celebrated in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and the South.
In this guide:
- Govardhan Puja 2026 at a glance
- 9 or 10 November?
- Muhurat by city
- The story of Govardhan
- Puja vidhi at home
- Annakut and Chhappan Bhog
- Govardhan Parikrama in Mathura
- How India celebrates it
- The five days of Diwali 2026
- FAQ
Govardhan Puja 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Govardhan Puja / Annakut | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Tithi | Kartik Shukla Pratipada |
| Pratipada begins | 12:31 PM, 9 November 2026 |
| Pratipada ends | 2:00 PM, 10 November 2026 |
| Morning muhurat (Delhi, approx.) | 6:40 AM – 8:50 AM |
| Also on this day | Bali Pratipada, Diwali Padwa, Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas), Gau Puja |
| Main celebration | Govardhan, Mathura district (Braj), Uttar Pradesh |
| Next day | Bhai Dooj, Wednesday 11 November |
Govardhan Puja 2026 Kab Hai: 9 or 10 November?
Many calendars printed 9 November, which is where the confusion comes from. Here's what's happening in 2026: Diwali is on Sunday 8 November, and Amavasya continues into Monday 9 November. Pratipada only begins at 12:31 PM on 9 November, after the morning is already gone. Govardhan Puja is a morning festival, so it needs Pratipada at sunrise. That happens on Tuesday, 10 November.
So the 9th is a gap day, sometimes called the "khali din" between Diwali and Govardhan. The puja, Annakut and Gau Puja are all on 10 November, finished before Pratipada ends at 2:00 PM. Bhai Dooj follows on 11 November.
Govardhan Puja 2026 Muhurat by City
| City | Morning muhurat, 10 Nov (approx.) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 6:40 AM – 8:50 AM |
| Mathura / Govardhan | 6:36 AM – 8:48 AM |
| Lucknow | 6:22 AM – 8:34 AM |
| Ayodhya | 6:17 AM – 8:29 AM |
The traditional "sayankal" (afternoon) muhurat falls after Pratipada ends this year, so the morning window is the one to follow in 2026. If you miss it, finish the puja any time before 2:00 PM. Timings are approximate and calculated from local sunrise. Your family panchang may differ by a few minutes.
The Story of Govardhan: Why Krishna Lifted the Hill
Every year the people of Vrindavan prepared a big offering for Lord Indra, the god of rain. Young Krishna asked his father Nand Baba a simple question: why worship Indra when it is Govardhan hill that feeds our cows, gives us grass, water and shelter? Convinced, the Brajwasis offered their food to Govardhan instead.
Indra was furious and sent torrential rain to flood Braj. Krishna lifted the entire Govardhan hill on the little finger of his left hand and held it up like an umbrella. All the people and cows of Braj sheltered under it for seven days and seven nights. Indra finally realised who Krishna was and asked his forgiveness. Since then Krishna is also called Giridhari and Govardhandhari, the one who held the hill.
The festival carries that message: respect the land, the cows and the food that sustain you. That's why the day is about cow-dung Govardhans, gau puja and mountains of food, not about gold or lamps.
Govardhan Puja Vidhi at Home (Step by Step)
- Morning: bathe early and clean the courtyard or the puja space.
- Make the Govardhan: traditionally with cow dung, shaped like a reclining figure or a small hill, with a navel (nabhi) in the middle. In flats, families use wheat dough, rice or a clay base on a plate.
- Decorate it with marigold flowers, grass, small sticks as trees, and little cow and calf figures. Put a Krishna idol or picture beside it.
- Fill the nabhi with milk, curd, honey, ghee and Gangajal, or simply milk.
- Offer roli, rice, flowers, a ghee diya, incense and the Annakut.
- Do the parikrama: walk around your Govardhan seven times, sprinkling water or carrying a diya, while chanting "Govardhan Maharaj ki jai".
- Aarti: sing the Govardhan Maharaj aarti ("Shri Govardhan Maharaj, tere maathe mukut viraaj raheyo…") and share the prasad.
- Gau puja: if you can, feed and worship a cow and calf with gur, roti and green fodder.
Try to complete everything in the morning muhurat, and in any case before 2:00 PM on 10 November.
Annakut and Chhappan Bhog: What to Offer
"Annakut" literally means a mountain of food. It recalls the feast the Brajwasis offered to Govardhan. Temples arrange dozens of dishes in tiers like a hill. At home you can keep it simple.
| Type | Common Annakut dishes |
|---|---|
| The must-have | Annakut ki sabzi: a mixed sabzi of many seasonal vegetables cooked together |
| Grains | Bajra khichdi, rice, poori, kadhi |
| Sweets | Kheer, laddoo, peda, barfi, malpua, jalebi |
| Krishna's favourites | Makhan-mishri, dahi, rabdi |
| Fruits and dry fruits | Seasonal fruits, dry fruits, sugarcane pieces |
Chhappan Bhog (56 dishes) comes from the belief that Krishna ate eight times a day. When he held the hill for seven days without eating, the Brajwasis made up for it with 7 × 8 = 56 dishes. Big temples offer the full 56. Families usually offer 5, 11 or 21 items, and that is perfectly fine.
Govardhan Puja in Mathura: The Parikrama Guide
If there is one place to be on Govardhan Puja, it is Govardhan town in Mathura district, about 22–25 km from Mathura city. The hill itself, Giriraj ji, is worshipped as a form of Krishna. On festival day the 21 km parikrama path is a river of people chanting "Giriraj Maharaj ki jai".
The 21 km Govardhan Parikrama: key stops
| Stop | What it is |
|---|---|
| Daan Ghati | The usual starting point in Govardhan town, with the Daan Ghati temple |
| Mansi Ganga | The sacred kund in the town centre, with the ancient Haridev ji temple nearby |
| Kusum Sarovar | A beautiful sandstone kund with chhatris; a peaceful stop |
| Radha Kund and Shyam Kund | The twin holy ponds of Radha and Krishna; one of the most sacred places in Braj |
| Govind Kund | Where, by tradition, Indra bowed to Krishna and bathed him |
| Jatipura Mukharvind | The "face" of Giriraj ji, where devotees offer milk abhishek |
| Puchhri ka Lautha | The far end of the circuit, with the temple of Lautha Baba |
Practical tips for the parikrama
- Distance and time: about 21 km. Most people take 5–6 hours on foot, longer on festival day because of the crowd.
- Start early: begin before dawn on 10 November. The path gets very crowded after 8 AM.
- Barefoot by tradition: many walk barefoot. If you're not used to it, walk in socks or simple slippers. Health matters more than hardship.
- Don't step on the hill: devotees never climb or put a foot on Giriraj ji; it is treated as the deity.
- Short version: elders can do part of the parikrama by e-rickshaw, or offer milk at Mukharvind and do a short walk.
- Water and food: seva camps hand out water and prasad along the route, but carry your own bottle.
- Stay: rooms in Govardhan, Mathura and Vrindavan sell out for Diwali week, so book early.
Festival-day traffic and parking advisories for Govardhan are issued by the district administration. Check the official Mathura district website before you travel.
Annakut in Braj temples
Temples across Mathura and Vrindavan offer grand Annakuts on this day. Around Govardhan, the ancient Haridev ji temple and the temples at Jatipura and Radha Kund are at the centre of the celebrations. In Vrindavan, many temples, including ISKCON, build a "Govardhan hill" of sweets and rice for darshan. Darshan timings change on festival days, so check with the temple you're visiting.
How Govardhan Puja Is Celebrated Across India
| Region | Name | How it's celebrated |
|---|---|---|
| Braj (Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan) | Govardhan Puja, Annakut | 21 km parikrama, milk abhishek at Mukharvind, grand temple Annakuts |
| Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, MP, Haryana | Govardhan / Godhan Puja | Cow-dung Govardhan in the courtyard, women's puja and songs, gau puja; Annakut in temples |
| Rajasthan (Nathdwara) | Annakut | A huge Annakut for Shrinathji. By tradition, local tribal communities take away the Annakut prasad, the famous "Annakut loot" |
| Gujarat | Bestu Varas (Gujarati New Year), Annakut | New year greetings ("Saal Mubarak"), new account books (chopda), Annakut darshan at Swaminarayan and Vaishnav temples |
| Maharashtra | Bali Pratipada, Diwali Padwa | Worship of King Bali; husbands and wives exchange gifts; a day for new beginnings |
| Karnataka | Bali Padyami | Worship of King Bali, the demon king who gave everything to Vaman |
| ISKCON temples worldwide | Govardhan Puja | A hill of sweets for darshan, then distributed as prasad |
Across all these regions the idea is the same: a fresh start after Diwali, with gratitude for food, cattle and nature.
Govardhan Puja in Ayodhya
If you're in Ayodhya for Diwali week, Govardhan Puja is a quieter, lovely day after the rush of Deepotsav and Diwali. Many temples and maths offer Annakut bhog, and Kartik snan continues every morning on the Saryu. Plan Ram Mandir darshan early in the morning. See the Ram Mandir darshan timing, book the free pass on online.srjbtkshetra.org (see how to book), and keep phones in the free locker. The whole festival month is in our Kartik Maas 2026 guide.
Going from Ayodhya to Mathura for Govardhan? It's a long drive, roughly 500 km via Lucknow and the Agra–Lucknow Expressway, about 8–9 hours. Leave on 9 November so you can start the parikrama at dawn on the 10th. Many families combine it with Agra. See our Agra travel guide, or ask us for an outstation cab.
The Five Days of Diwali 2026
| Date | Festival |
|---|---|
| 6 November (Fri) | Dhanteras. See the Dhanteras 2026 muhurat |
| 7 November (Sat) | Choti Diwali, Ayodhya Deepotsav, Hanuman Jayanti at Hanuman Garhi |
| 8 November (Sun) | Diwali, Lakshmi Puja |
| 9 November (Mon) | Amavasya continues; no Govardhan Puja ("gap day") |
| 10 November (Tue) | Govardhan Puja, Annakut, Bali Pratipada, Gujarati New Year |
| 11 November (Wed) | Bhai Dooj, Chitragupta Puja |
For Ayodhya's Deepotsav night, see the Deepotsav 2026 guide.
Govardhan Puja Do's and Don'ts
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Finish the puja before Pratipada ends at 2:00 PM on 10 Nov | Do the Govardhan puja on 9 Nov morning (Amavasya) |
| Feed cows and calves, and offer gur and green fodder | Shoo away or hurt cattle on this day |
| Offer an Annakut, even a small one | Waste the prasad; share it instead |
| Walk the parikrama with respect for the hill | Step on or climb Giriraj ji in Govardhan |
| Keep the Govardhan clean and visit it again in the evening with a diya | Leave the cow-dung Govardhan uncovered for days |
Travel Help for Diwali Week
We arrange cabs, hotels and darshan planning in Ayodhya for the whole Diwali week, and outstation cabs to Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra. See our Ram Mandir tour package, Ayodhya cab service and hotels near Ram Mandir. Trains fill up fast in November, so book early on IRCTC. We never sell darshan passes. Read Ram Mandir VIP darshan: real or fake.
FAQ: Govardhan Puja 2026
When is Govardhan Puja 2026?
Govardhan Puja 2026 is on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, on Kartik Shukla Pratipada. Pratipada begins at 12:31 PM on 9 November and ends at 2:00 PM on 10 November.
Govardhan Puja 2026 kab hai, 9 ya 10 November?
Govardhan Puja 2026 Mangalvar, 10 November ko hai. 9 November ki subah Amavasya hai aur Pratipada dopahar 12:31 baje shuru hoti hai, isliye puja 10 November ki subah, dopahar 2 baje se pehle ki jayegi.
What is the Govardhan Puja muhurat in 2026?
The morning muhurat on 10 November 2026 is about 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM in Delhi, about 6:36 to 8:48 AM in Mathura and about 6:17 to 8:29 AM in Ayodhya. Complete the puja before Pratipada ends at 2:00 PM.
Why is Govardhan Puja celebrated?
It celebrates Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan hill on his little finger for seven days to protect the people and cows of Braj from Indra's storm. It is a festival of gratitude to nature, cows and food.
What is Annakut?
Annakut means a "mountain of food". On Govardhan Puja, many dishes, from Annakut sabzi, kadhi, bajra and rice to sweets and makhan-mishri, are offered to Krishna, arranged like a hill, and then shared as prasad.
How long is the Govardhan Parikrama?
The Govardhan Parikrama in Mathura district is about 21 km and usually takes 5–6 hours on foot. Key stops include Daan Ghati, Mansi Ganga, Kusum Sarovar, Radha Kund, Jatipura Mukharvind and Puchhri ka Lautha.
How far is Govardhan from Mathura?
Govardhan is about 22–25 km from Mathura city, around 40–50 minutes by road. Traffic is much heavier on Govardhan Puja day, so start early.
How do you make Govardhan at home?
Shape a small Govardhan with cow dung, or with dough or clay in a flat, decorate it with flowers, grass and small cow figures, fill its navel with milk, offer the Annakut, walk around it seven times and sing the Govardhan aarti.
Is Gujarati New Year on Govardhan Puja?
Yes. In 2026 the Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) falls on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, 10 November, the same day as Govardhan Puja and Annakut.
What is Bali Pratipada?
Bali Pratipada, or Diwali Padwa, is celebrated in Maharashtra and Karnataka on the same day as Govardhan Puja. It honours King Bali, and in Maharashtra husbands and wives exchange gifts.
Can elderly people do the Govardhan Parikrama?
Yes, at their own pace. They can do part of the route on foot and part by e-rickshaw, or simply offer milk at Jatipura Mukharvind. Avoid the midday crowd and carry water.
Govardhan Puja par kya bhog lagayein?
Govardhan Puja par Annakut ki sabzi, kadhi-chawal, bajre ki khichdi, poori, kheer, laddoo, peda aur makhan-mishri ka bhog lagaya jata hai. Ghar me 5, 11 ya 21 cheezon ka chhota Annakut bhi kaafi hai.
Planning Diwali week in Ayodhya, or a trip to Mathura and Vrindavan? Tell us your dates and group size, and we'll plan your cab, hotel and darshan timing. Send an enquiry and we'll reply on WhatsApp.
