By the Vrajraj team, Govardhan · Last verified
Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut, falls the day after the new moon of Kartik, usually the day after Diwali. In 2026 it is on Tuesday 10 November. Across India it is celebrated at home, but at Govardhan it is the festival of the year. Temples offer mountains of food to Giriraj ji, and the parikrama path is full of devotees day and night.
The story behind Govardhan Puja
The Bhagavata Purana tells how the people of Vraja used to make offerings to Indra, the god of rain. The young Krishna persuaded them to honour Govardhan Hill instead: the hill that fed their cows and sheltered their village. Angered, Indra sent a devastating storm. Krishna lifted Govardhan on one hand and held it for seven days, and all of Vraja sheltered beneath it until Indra relented.
Govardhan Puja celebrates that moment: gratitude to the land, the cows and the hill that sustains life. It is why the festival matters so much here, at the hill itself.
How Govardhan Puja is celebrated at Govardhan
- Annakut: temples prepare and offer a "mountain" of food to Giriraj ji, later distributed as prasad.
- Milk abhishek at Daan Ghati and at Mukharvind in Jatipura, the traditional seat of Shrinathji.
- Parikrama: huge numbers of devotees walk the 21 km route through the day and night.
- Cow worship: cows are bathed, decorated and honoured, especially in gaushalas.
- Govardhan of cow dung: in Braj homes a small Govardhan is shaped from cow dung, decorated and worshipped.
2026 dates around Govardhan Puja
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Ahoi Ashtami (Radha Kund snan) | Sun 1 Nov 2026 |
| Dhanteras | Fri 6 Nov 2026 |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sun 8 Nov 2026 |
| Govardhan Puja & Annakut | Tue 10 Nov 2026 |
| Bhai Dooj | Wed 11 Nov 2026 |
| Kartik Purnima | Tue 24 Nov 2026 |
Tips for visiting at Govardhan Puja
- Book well ahead. This is peak Kartik season.
- Expect traffic diversions around Govardhan town; arrive early in the morning.
- Walk the parikrama a day earlier or later if you prefer more space, and visit temples for Annakut darshan on the day.
- Keep elderly family members and children close, and agree a meeting point.
Stay at Govardhan for Annakut
Vrajraj Farms & Retreat is at Punchhari on the Govardhan Parikrama, on the quieter southern side of the hill. It is a farm retreat with a gaushala, a fitting place to celebrate a festival of gratitude for the land and the cows. Enquire for Govardhan Puja dates.