Govardhan Puja 2026 Date: November 9 Or 10, When Is Annakut? Muhurat Timing, Rituals, Amavasya, Significance

The celebration of Govardhan Puja usually falls right after the main auspicious Lakshmi Pujan of Diwali. However, this year, there is one-day gap due to the muhurat, and many are confused about whether the Govardhan festival falls on November 9th or November 10th.

Govardhan Puja 2026 Date:

This year, the main Diwali was celebrated on November 8, 2026. And by the chronological order, Govardhan Puja should have been celebrated on November 9th.

However, in 2026 Hindu calendar, Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on November 10, 2026. This is the confirmed date.

Why Is There a 1-Day Gap?

The reason is Amavasya. As per Sanatana Journey website, te reason is that Amavasya lasts until 12:31 PM on 9 November, so the morning of the 9th is still Amavasya ("Diwali Snan"). Kartik Shukla Pratipada begins at 12:31 PM on 9 November and is the sunrise tithi on 10 November, when the prescribed morning (pratahkala) puja is possible. Drik Panchang notes this gap happens "sometimes".

Generally, some holidays are announced on November 9th for Govardhan Puja because they simply count "day after Diwali". The Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) and Maharashtra's Bali Padva follow the same Pratipada and hence Govardhan Puja date varies from city to city.

Govardhan Puja 2026: Puja Muhurat Timings

Govardhan Puja which is also called as Annakut, will face Pratipada tithi differently across cities. For instance, as per Dharmayana report, Govardhan Puja 2026 is on Tuesday, 10 November. In Delhi, Pratipada tithi is running at sunrise on 10 Nov. On 9 Nov it begins at 12:32 PM, after sunrise.

Further, the report pointed out that in Ujjain, Indore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Jaipur, Govardhan Puja is done on the evening of 9 Nov (Ujjain 3:31-5:45 PM), because Pratipada covers less of the 10 Nov morning there.

Overall, the Pratahkala muhurat is from 6:40 AM - 8:50 AM on November 10, 2026. While the Pratipada begins from 12:31 PM on November 9, 2026 and will end on 2:00 PM on November 10, 2026.

As per Drik Panchang, one should should remember Lord Govardhan and chant the following Mantra during Govardhan Pujan,

Govardhana Dharadhara Gokulatranakaraka।
Bahubahukritachchhaya Gavam Kotiprado Bhava॥

And thereafter, they should pray to Gau Mata with Mantra:

Lakshmirya Lokapalanam Dhenurupena Samsthita।
Ghritam Vahati Yajnarthe Mama Papam Vyapohatu॥.

Govardhan Puja 2026 Significance:

Govardhan Puja is a Hindu festival celebrated on the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika, on the fourth day of Diwali. Devotees worship an image of Govardhan Hill made out of cow dung and prepare and offer a wide variety of vegetarian food to Krishna as an expression of gratitude. For Vaishnavas, this day commemorates the incident in the Bhagavata Purana when Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to provide the villagers of Vrindavan shelter from torrential rains. Peoples of Vrindavan used to worship Indra for rain. This incident symbolizes God offering protection to devotees who take singular refuge in him, as per Wikipedia.

Accordingly, devotees offer a mountain of food, metaphorically representing the Govardhan Hill, to God as a ritual remembrance and to renew their faith in taking refuge in God.

Govardhan Puja 2026: Rituals