Govardhan Puja 2024: Date, Muhurat and Annakut

Govardhan Puja falls on Kartika Shukla Pratipada, the day after the Diwali new moon in most years. It recalls Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill on his little finger to shelter the people and cattle of Gokul from the storms sent by Indra. Devotees offer Annakut, a mountain of many vegetarian dishes, to Krishna, and in Braj circle the Govardhan hill. The same lunar day is Bali Pratipada (Padwa) in Maharashtra and Karnataka and the Gujarati New Year, Bestu Varas.

Govardhan Puja is done while Pratipada prevails, in the morning (pratahkala, the first fifth of the day) or in the evening (sayankala, the last fifth of the day). When Pratipada begins late on the day after Lakshmi Puja, the observance moves to the following day, leaving a one-day gap.

Amavasya can continue past sunrise on the day after Lakshmi Puja. Pratipada then does not prevail that morning, so Govardhan Puja moves to the following day, and the day in between is still Amavasya rather than a separate festival day. The five-day calendar on this page shows the dates for the year.

Annakut means a mountain of food. Temples and homes prepare dozens of vegetarian dishes, from sweets to vegetables and grains, and arrange them before Krishna as a thanksgiving for the harvest and for his protection of Gokul. The offering is then shared as prasad.

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Shukla Pratipada runs from 6:07 pm, 1 Nov to 8:12 pm, 2 Nov (Indian Standard Time).

Each city's muhurat is calculated from its own sunrise, sunset, tithi and rising lagna (Lahiri ayanamsa). Lagna windows usually agree with printed panchangs to within a few minutes; tithi times are approximate, usually within about 30 minutes. Cities outside India show their local date and time. For a havan or a family-specific muhurat, confirm with your purohit.

Many families, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan, choose the puja or shopping time on Govardhan Puja from the Choghadiya. Amrit, Shubh and Labh are the good periods; Char also suits travel.