Govardhan Puja & Bali Padyami 2026: Annakut, Story & Vidhi
Govardhan Puja / Bali Padyami / Annakut 2026 (Mon 9 November): Krishna lifting Govardhan & the return of King Bali — story, Annakut, puja vidhi, mantra & diaspora guide.
Govardhan Puja / Bali Padyami / Annakut 2026 (Mon 9 November): Krishna lifting Govardhan & the return of King Bali — story, Annakut, puja vidhi, mantra & diaspora guide.
Govardhan Puja — also Bali Padyami and Annakut — falls on Monday, 9 November 2026, the day after Lakshmi Puja in the Deepavali 2026 sequence. It honours Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan, and in the South the return of King Bali.
Govardhan Puja 2026 Date
- Date: Monday, 9 November 2026 (Shukla Pratipada) — confirm locally
- Also called: Bali Padyami, Annakut, Padwa
- Marks: Day 4 of Deepavali; in the amanta calendar, the start of Karthika Masam
The Govardhan Story
When the people of Vrindavan, on Krishna’s counsel, worshipped Mount Govardhan and the cattle instead of Indra, the offended rain-god loosed a deluge. Krishna lifted the entire hill on his little finger as an umbrella, sheltering all beneath it for seven days — humbling Indra and teaching that devotion to nature and the divine outweighs fear of power.
Annakut & Bali Padyami
In gratitude, devotees build an Annakut — a "mountain" of cooked foods offered to Krishna and Govardhan, then shared as prasad. In the South and West the same day is Bali Padyami, honouring the noble King Bali, blessed by Vishnu’s Vamana avatar to return and visit his people once a year; in parts of the country it also opens a new year.
Rituals & Puja Vidhi
- Make a small Govardhan of cow-dung or earth (or an image of Krishna with the hill).
- Worship Krishna and Govardhan; perform Go Puja (worship of the cow) where possible.
- Prepare and offer the Annakut of varied dishes, then distribute as prasad.
- For Bali Padyami, draw the Bali figure/rangoli and offer prayers.
Mantra
Krishna: ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय · oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
How the Diaspora Observes
ISKCON and Krishna temples across the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, the UAE and Germany hold grand Annakut offerings and Govardhan Puja, with hundreds of dishes; families do a simple Krishna puja and Annakut at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Govardhan Puja 2026?
Govardhan Puja / Bali Padyami / Annakut falls on Monday, 9 November 2026 (Shukla Pratipada), the day after Lakshmi Puja; confirm locally.
What is the story of Govardhan Puja?
Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger to shelter the people of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by Indra — teaching devotion to nature and the divine over fear of the gods.
What is Annakut?
Annakut means "mountain of food" — a grand variety of dishes is offered to Krishna and Govardhan, then shared as prasad.
What is Bali Padyami?
In the South and West, the day honours the return of the righteous King Bali to earth, recalling Vishnu’s Vamana avatar; it is also the start of the new Vikram Samvat year in some regions.
Key Takeaways
- Govardhan Puja 2026: Monday, 9 November — Day 4 of Deepavali.
- Krishna lifting Govardhan; Annakut offering; Bali Padyami in the South.
- Worship Krishna & Govardhan; offer the Annakut; chant Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
See Deepavali 2026, Lakshmi Puja 2026 and Bhai Dooj 2026.
