Govardhan Puja 2016
Annakut offering the day after Diwali.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:05
- Sunset17:18
- Fasting window (tithi)2016-10-30 · 23:12 → 2016-11-01 · 01:43
- Parana (tithi ends)01:432016-11-01
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Govardhan Puja puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaGovardhan Puja — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Govardhan Puja celebrated?
On the Pratipada of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika, in autumn — the first day of the bright fortnight, the day after Diwali. For this year's date, see the date shown above.
What is Annakut?
The 'mountain of food' — a large spread of vegetarian dishes cooked and heaped before Krishna in the image of the Govardhan hill he lifted, then offered and shared as prasad, ideally with the whole community.
Why is a Govardhan hill made of cow dung?
A small hill is modelled from cow dung and decorated with trees, cattle and figures, and worshipped as Govardhan itself. Cow dung ties the rite to the pastoral, agrarian world the festival gives thanks for.
What does Govardhan Puja teach?
The katha turns worship away from Indra, a distant power appeased through fear, toward the hill, the cattle and the land that actually sustain life. It is a festival of gratitude to nature.
Other major festivals in 2016
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2016
- Vasant Panchami — 13 February 2016
- Maha Shivaratri — 7 March 2016
- Holika Dahan — 22 March 2016
- Holi — 24 March 2016
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 8 April 2016
- Ram Navami — 15 April 2016
- Akshaya Tritiya — 9 May 2016
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 6 July 2016
- Guru Purnima — 19 July 2016
- Nag Panchami — 7 August 2016
- Raksha Bandhan — 18 August 2016
- Krishna Janmashtami — 24 August 2016
- Hartalika Teej — 4 September 2016
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 5 September 2016
- Anant Chaturdashi — 15 September 2016
- Pitru Paksha begins — 17 September 2016
- Sharad Navratri begins — 1 October 2016
- Durga Ashtami — 9 October 2016
- Maha Navami — 10 October 2016
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 11 October 2016
- Karwa Chauth — 19 October 2016
- Dhanteras — 28 October 2016
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 29 October 2016
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 30 October 2016
- Bhai Dooj — 1 November 2016
- Chhath Puja — 6 November 2016
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 14 November 2016
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 14 November 2016
- Hindu Festivals 2016 →