Govardhan Puja
In 2026, Govardhan Puja falls on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
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 using Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar, 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 phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Most Hindu festivals are tied to specific Tithis, which is why their Gregorian calendar dates change each year.
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 calendar with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Navratri, and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing festival rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara, and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika calculates the precise muhurta for each festival based on local sunrise, Tithi end times, and auspicious Nakshatras.
What is 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 in the Hindu calendar — Purnima for celebrations and Amavasya for ancestor rituals (Pitru Tarpan). Festivals like Holi, Guru Purnima, and Sharad Purnima all fall on Purnima.