Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of New Delhi, India with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
Most of the time Govardhan Puja day falls next day after Diwali Puja. On this day, Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Parvat to protect the residents of Braj from the wrath of Lord Indra. After seven days of continuous torrential rain, Lord Indra accepted His defeat on the day of Gopashtami. Hence, Govardhan Puja is celebrated to commemorate Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill. Sometimes there might be one day gap between Diwali and Govardhan Puja.
In religious texts, Govardhan Puja celebrations are suggested during Pratipada Tithi of Kartik month. Depending on starting time of Pratipada, Govardhan Puja day might fall one day earlier, on the Amavasya day, on Hindu calendar.
Gowardhan Puja is also known as Annakut Puja. On this day food made of cereals like wheat, rice, curry made of gram flour and leafy vegetables is cooked and offered to Lord Krishna.
In Maharashtra the same day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. The day commemorates victory of Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, over King Bali and subsequent pushing of Bali to Patal Lok (the underworld). It is believed that due to boon given by Lord Vamana, Asura King Bali visits the Prithvi Lok from the Patala Lok on this day.
Most of the time Govardhan Puja day coincides with Gujarati New Year day, which is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of Kartik month. Depending on starting time of Pratipada Tithi, Govardhan Puja celebrations could be done one day before Gujarati New Year day.
During Govardhan Puja, one should remember Lord Govardhan and chant the following Mantra according to one's capacity -
गोवर्धन धराधार गोकुलत्राणकारक।
बहुबाहुकृतच्छाय गवां कोटिप्रदो भव॥
Govardhana Dharadhara Gokulatranakaraka।
Bahubahukritachchaya Gavam Kotiprado Bhava॥
Meaning - O Govardhan Mountain! O support of the Earth! O protector of Gokul! O Shri Govardhan Nath, whose mighty arms, in the form of peaks, provide shade! May You bestow upon me millions of cows.
Thereafter, one should pray to Gau Mata while chanting the following Mantra -
लक्ष्मीर्या लोकपालानां धेनुरूपेण संस्थिता।
घृतं वहति यज्ञार्थे मम पापं व्यपोहतु॥
Lakshmirya Lokapalanam Dhenurupena Samsthita।
Ghritam Vahati Yagyarthe Mama Papam Vyapohatu॥
Meaning - May Goddess Lakshmi, who abides in the form of a Dhenu, or cow, for all the Lokapalas and Dikpalas, and who provides sacred Ghee for the performance of Yajnas, completely destroy all my sins in Her divine form as Gau Mata.
The Govardhan Puja Katha, related to the conflict between Lord Krishna and Devraj Indra, has been described here. The Govardhan Puja Katha is also known as the Annakut Puja Katha. In this story, Lord Krishna instructs the cowherd boys to celebrate Govardhanotsava instead of Indrotsava.
This is the most popular and well-known Aarti dedicated to Lord Govardhan which is sung on various occasions of Govardhan Maharaj.
This Govardhan Puja Vidhi will help you to do Govardhan Puja at home. Govardhan Puja festival is celebrated with great joy in the Braj region. On this day, people prepare an idol of Lord Govardhan with the Gobar (गोबर) of a Desi cow and worship it.
Gopashtami day falls on Ashtami Tithi during Kartik Shukla Paksha. It is famous festival in Mathura, Vrindavan and other Braj regions. Cows and their calf are decorated and worshipped on the day of Gopashtami.
Diwali is a major festival of Hindus. Various Gods and Goddesses are worshipped in the five-day Diwali festival. Dhantrayodashi, Narak Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, Bhaiya Dooj are the part of this five-day Diwali festival.
Diwali is the five days festivity period which begins on Dhanteras and ends on Bhaiya Dooj. Diwali Puja Calendar is given on this page, through which you can get detailed information about the Diwali rituals and their auspicious timings.
A collection of Diwali Puja Mantras has been provided. This Diwali Puja Mantra collection includes various important Mantras such as Govatsa Dwadashi Mantra, Yama Deepam Mantra and Abhyanga Snana Mantra. These Mantras are used during the various festivals of the five-day Diwali celebration.
According to the Hindu Panchang, the Pratipada Tithi of the Kartika month is known as Bali Pratipada. This festival is observed on the day following Diwali Puja. Bali Puja and Govardhana Puja are celebrated on the same day. On this occasion, Daityaraja Bali is worshipped with devotion.
Lord Krishna is one of the most popular deities worshipped in Hinduism. Krishna is the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu incarnated as Shri Krishna to protect the people of Braj from the atrocities of Kansa.
Lord Indra is one of the main deities worshipped in Hinduism. In Hindu scriptures, Indra is described as the King of Gods. Lord Indra controls rain and rules over Swargaloka. However, Indra is also considered a position instead of a deity.
Lord Vamana is the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana to free Devaloka from King Bali and to eliminate the ego of Bali. Lord Vamana is also known as Trivikrama.
