Govardhana Puja and Go Puja

What is Govardhana Puja and Go Puja?

Govardhana Puja is the worship of Govardhana Hill with Annakuta, a great feast whose name means a heap of food. Devotees also keep Go Puja, honouring the cows and caring for them. In 2026 both fall on Tuesday, 10 November, the day after Dipavali.

Significance

The cowherd men of Vrindavana were preparing a sacrifice to Indra, the king of heaven. Lord Krishna asked His father, Maharaja Nanda, to use the same materials instead to honour the cows, the brahmanas and Govardhana Hill. Srila Prabhupada writes that Krishna wanted to teach Indra, a devotee who had become puffed up by his position, and to establish exclusive devotional service. Krishna told His father:

Such a sacrifice will be very dear to the cows, the brāhmaṇas and Govardhana Hill, and also to Me.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.24.30

How to observe it

Krishna asked for many kinds of food, from sweet rice to fried and baked cakes and milk preparations. He also asked that the cows be decorated and fed grass, and that they be circumambulated together with Govardhana Hill. Devotees follow these instructions today by offering Annakuta, a mountain of food, and sharing the prasadam widely. Bali Daityaraja Puja and the appearance day of Sri Rasikananda fall on the same day.

Read more: Govardhan Puja

This holy day falls in Kartik, the month of Lord Damodara, when devotees offer Him a lamp each evening and sing Damodarashtakam. Read about Kartik (Damodara) Month, and offer your own lamp from wherever you are through our Kartik Deep Daan Seva.