Govardhan Puja 2027: Date, Tithi, Muhurta & Significance
In 2027, Govardhan Puja falls on Saturday, 30 October 2027.
History & Mythology
The people of Braj had always offered their harvest worship to Indra, king of the gods and giver of rain. The boy Krishna asked a simple question: why worship the distant thunder when Govardhan hill feeds the cows, and the cows feed us all? Vrindavan listened, and offered its harvest to the hill. Indra's fury broke over Braj as a seven-day deluge — until Krishna lifted Govardhan on the little finger of his left hand and held it as an umbrella over every person and creature of the land, until the humbled god relented.
Govardhan Puja preserves that lesson each year on the day after Diwali. Hillocks of cow dung stand for the mountain, cattle are honoured, and temples raise the Annakut — the "mountain of food," often hundreds of dishes heaped before the deity and then shared as prasada with everyone. It is gratitude turned toward the near and living: the land, the cattle, the food on the plate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these with the Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year, and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the two. This is why Diwali, Navratri and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing Shukla Paksha and 15 in the waning Krishna Paksha. Most festivals are tied to a specific Tithi, which is why their Gregorian dates shift each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika computes the precise muhurta for each festival from your local sunrise, Tithi end times and auspicious Nakshatras.
What are Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full-moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha), when Moon and Sun are 180° apart; Amavasya is the new-moon day, when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant — Purnima for celebrations, Amavasya for ancestral rites (Pitru Tarpan).