10 NOV 2026
Govardhan Puja & Annakut (Braj)
Photo: Manish kumar ambesh / CC BY-SA 4.0
Kartik Pratipada in Braj: Annakut food offerings in Vrindavan temples and the 21 km Govardhan Parikrama on 10 November.
Govardhan Puja and Annakut fall on the same day, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, usually the day after Diwali. The names are often used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same thing. Govardhan Puja is the festival itself, honouring Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter the cowherds of Braj, so devotees worship the hill (Giriraj) and walk the parikrama. Annakut, meaning mountain of food, is the offering made that day, when temples heap many dishes before the deity.
In 2026 it falls on Tuesday 10 November. DrikPanchang lists both names on that date. The main places travellers go are Govardhan town (about 25 km from Mathura and Vrindavan) for the 21 km Govardhan Parikrama, and temples across Mathura and Vrindavan for Annakut darshan.
On the parikrama path, expect dense crowds around Daan Ghati, Mansi Ganga, Jatipura Mukharvind, Radha Kund, Shyam Kund and Kusum Sarovar. Many walk barefoot; do not climb the hill. Seva camps often hand out water and prasad. In Vrindavan, temples including ISKCON and Radha Raman put up Annakut displays of cooked dishes, sweets and fruit, later shared as prasad. Darshan queues are long by mid morning.
Entry to temples and the parikrama is free. Book stays in Mathura, Vrindavan or Govardhan early for Diwali week. Start the walk before dawn if you attempt the full circuit, or take an e-rickshaw for part of the route if you cannot walk all 21 km. Carry water, dress modestly, and leave valuables at your stay.
Govardhan Puja and Annakut fall on the same day, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, usually the day after Diwali. The names are often used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same thing. Govardhan Puja is the festival itself, honouring Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter the cowherds of Braj, so devotees worship the hill (Giriraj) and walk the parikrama. Annakut, meaning mountain of food, is the offering made that day, when temples heap many dishes before the deity.
In 2026 it falls on Tuesday 10 November. DrikPanchang lists both names on that date. The main places travellers go are Govardhan town (about 25 km from Mathura and Vrindavan) for the 21 km Govardhan Parikrama, and temples across Mathura and Vrindavan for Annakut darshan.
On the parikrama path, expect dense crowds around Daan Ghati, Mansi Ganga, Jatipura Mukharvind, Radha Kund, Shyam Kund and Kusum Sarovar. Many walk barefoot; do not climb the hill. Seva camps often hand out water and prasad. In Vrindavan, temples including ISKCON and Radha Raman put up Annakut displays of cooked dishes, sweets and fruit, later shared as prasad. Darshan queues are long by mid morning.
Entry to temples and the parikrama is free. Book stays in Mathura, Vrindavan or Govardhan early for Diwali week. Start the walk before dawn if you attempt the full circuit, or take an e-rickshaw for part of the route if you cannot walk all 21 km. Carry water, dress modestly, and leave valuables at your stay.
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