गोवर्धन पूजा

Govardhan Puja falls on Monday, 9 November in 2026 and on Saturday, 30 October in 2027, the day after Diwali Lakshmi Puja. Also called Annakut, “a mountain of food”, it celebrates the day Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shelter the people and cattle of Vraja from Indra’s storm. Devotees build a small Govardhan from cow dung or food, offer it dozens of dishes and walk around it in worship. In Gujarat the same day begins the New Year, and in Maharashtra and Karnataka it is Bali Pratipada.

Govardhan Puja 2027 date

Govardhan Puja 2027 is on Saturday, 30 October 2027 (Kartik Shukla Pratipada). In 2026 it falls on Monday, 9 November 2026 by the Delhi panchang; some calendars in western India place it on 10 November because of the tithi timing. Follow your local panchang.

The story of Krishna lifting Govardhan

The Bhagavata Purana (Book 10) tells how the cowherds of Vraja prepared their yearly offering to Indra, king of the gods and giver of rain. Young Krishna asked them to honour Govardhan Hill instead, which gave grass to their cows and shelter to their families. Angered, Indra sent seven days of torrential rain. Krishna lifted the whole hill on the little finger of his left hand and held it up like an umbrella while everyone took shelter beneath it. Humbled, Indra came to Krishna and bowed, and the surabhi cow Kamadhenu bathed him, naming him Govinda. Read the full story in Govardhan Puja: Krishna lifting the mountain.

How Govardhan Puja is observed

• Govardhan image: a small hill is shaped from cow dung or clay in the courtyard, decorated with flowers and figures of cows and cowherds.
• Annakut: a mountain of vegetarian dishes, often 56 (chhappan bhog), is offered to Krishna in homes and temples, then shared.
• Parikrama: devotees circle the Govardhan image; in Mathura many walk the 21 km parikrama around the real Govardhan Hill.
• Go puja: cows and bullocks are bathed, decorated and worshipped.
• New Year and Bali Pratipada: Gujarati families begin the new year, and Maharashtra and Karnataka honour King Bali.

The meaning of Govardhan Puja

Govardhan Puja teaches gratitude to the land, the animals and nature that sustain us, and shows the Lord protecting all who take shelter in him. Next comes Bhai Dooj. See the whole year on the Hindu festival calendar.

Frequently asked questions