North India · October–November
Also known as Annakut · Padwa · Bali Pratipada · Gowardhan Puja
When it’s celebrated
The exact date shifts each year — it’s fixed from the panchang. Cast your free kundli or check the calendar for this year’s muhurat.
Significance
Govardhan Puja celebrates Lord Krishna's lifting of Mount Govardhan to shelter the people of Vrindavan from torrential rains, teaching humility to Indra and devotion to nature. Observed the day after Diwali, it is a festival of gratitude to nature and the divine, marked by the Annakut, a 'mountain of food' offered to Krishna.
The story
When the cowherds of Vrindavan prepared their annual worship of Indra, the rain god, the young Krishna persuaded them instead to honour Govardhan Hill, which sustained their cattle and livelihood. Enraged, Indra unleashed a devastating storm; Krishna lifted the entire Govardhan Hill on the little finger of his left hand, holding it aloft as an umbrella for seven days and nights to shelter the villagers and their cattle, until a humbled Indra relented — establishing the worship of Govardhan and the supremacy of devotion over pride.
Rituals
Across India
Govardhan Puja is most fervently observed in the Braj region (Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan) and across North India. In Gujarat the same day is the new-year Bestu Varas/Padwa, in Maharashtra it is Bali Pratipada honouring King Bali, and in temples across India (notably Swaminarayan and ISKCON traditions) the Annakut feast is a grand offering. The cow-worship and food-mountain are common threads.
Questions
Govardhan Puja celebrates Lord Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to protect the people of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by Indra. It honours nature, cattle and the supremacy of devotion over pride.
Lord Krishna is the presiding deity, worshipped together with Govardhan Hill, which is represented by a mound of cow dung or food. Cows are also venerated on this day.
Govardhan Puja falls on the first tithi (Pratipada) of the bright fortnight of Kartik, the day after Diwali, usually in October or November. The date changes each year with the Hindu lunar calendar.
Annakut, meaning 'mountain of food', is the central offering of Govardhan Puja — a large spread of vegetarian dishes arranged like a hill and offered to Lord Krishna in gratitude, then distributed as prasad.
Devotees make a small Govardhan hill of cow dung or food and worship it, prepare the Annakut feast for Krishna, decorate and worship cattle, perform parikrama of Govardhan Hill, and sing bhajans recalling Krishna's feat.
Book a pooja in your name, find the muhurat, or read the day’s panchang — bring the festival into your own practice.
