✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Govardhan Puja 2026 falls on Tuesday, 10 November by the panchang, the fourth day of the Diwali festival (the Chandigarh Administration’s holiday list marks it a day earlier, on Monday, 9 November). It commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter the villagers of Vrindavan from Indra’s torrential rain, and is marked at home with an Annakut offering of many vegetarian dishes. It’s a family and community observance in Chandigarh rather than a public event.
Date last checked on 7 October 2026 against the Chandigarh Administration’s 2026 holiday list and Drik Panchang (calculated for Chandigarh).
Every 2026 festival date, with its weekday and whether it is a holiday in Chandigarh, is in our Chandigarh festival calendar.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Date by the panchang | Tuesday, 10 November 2026, calculated for Chandigarh |
| Date on the Chandigarh Administration list | Monday, 9 November 2026, restricted holiday named Govardhan Puja/Vishwakarma Day |
| Pratipada tithi | 12:31 PM on 9 November to 2:00 PM on 10 November |
| Morning puja muhurat | 6:45 AM to 8:53 AM on 10 November, calculated for Chandigarh |
| ISKCON Chandigarh calendar | Govardhana Puja on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Next year | Saturday, 30 October 2027 |
The Legend Behind Govardhan Puja
According to the Bhagavata Purana, the people of Vrindavan traditionally worshipped Indra, the god of rain and thunder, for a good harvest. Krishna persuaded them to worship Govardhan Hill instead, which sheltered their cattle and gave them everything they needed. Angered, Indra unleashed torrential rains on the village — and Krishna lifted the entire hill on his little finger, holding it aloft as an umbrella to shelter the villagers and their cattle until Indra relented. Govardhan Puja commemorates that act of protection.
How Govardhan Puja Is Observed
Traditionally, devotees make a small representation of Govardhan Hill from cow dung and worship it. The centrepiece of the day is Annakut — literally “mountain of food” — a large spread of vegetarian dishes prepared and offered as a mark of gratitude, echoing the abundance Govardhan Hill provided. In Chandigarh, this is a home and family tradition rather than a public event, often folded into the wider Diwali gathering with family on the fourth of the festival’s five days.
Govardhan Puja 2026 Date
Govardhan Puja 2026 falls on Tuesday, 10 November by the panchang — two days after Diwali and Lakshmi Puja on 8 November, and the day before Bhai Dooj. The Pratipada tithi runs from 12:31 PM on 9 November to 2:00 PM on 10 November, and the morning puja muhurat in Chandigarh is 6:45 AM to 8:53 AM on the 10th. The Chandigarh Administration’s 2026 holiday list and the central government’s list both mark Govardhan Puja on Monday, 9 November, so offices and some temples observe it that day — confirm with your temple. See our full Diwali in Chandigarh guide for the complete five-day calendar.
🎥 Watch: On Chandigarh Life
What the 9 November holiday listing means
The 9 November entry is a restricted holiday, and the notification lets each employee choose any two restricted holidays in the year. It is not in Schedule-I, the list of public holidays for offices under the Administration, where Diwali on Sunday, 8 November is the entry for that week. The Administration’s separate list of holidays under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act does name Govardhan Puja/Vishwakarma Day on Monday, 9 November, so check with your bank branch before planning a transaction that day.
The row is titled Govardhan Puja/Vishwakarma Day. Wikipedia says some craftsmen pay reverence to their tools and machinery on the day of Annakut, and that Vishvakarma Puja is observed mainly in factories and industrial areas. If you run a workshop or depend on one, ask whether it closes.
Govardhan Puja 2027
Govardhan Puja falls on Saturday, 30 October 2027 in the central government’s list, and the panchang calculated for Chandigarh gives the same day, with the morning muhurat from 6:36 AM to 8:48 AM. The Chandigarh Administration issues its own list each year, so confirm the local holiday date when its 2027 notification appears.
More festival guides
- Diwali in Chandigarh: Sunday, 8 November.
- Dhanteras in Chandigarh: Friday, 6 November, and the shopping.
- Bhai Dooj in Chandigarh: Wednesday, 11 November.
- Chhath Puja in Chandigarh: 13 to 16 November, and the ghats.
- Chandigarh festival calendar 2026: every date, verified.
FAQ’s
When is Govardhan Puja 2026?
Tuesday, 10 November 2026 by the panchang, the fourth day of the five-day Diwali festival — the morning puja muhurat in Chandigarh is 6:45 AM to 8:53 AM. The Chandigarh Administration holiday list marks Govardhan Puja on Monday, 9 November, so some offices and temples observe it that day.
What is the story behind Govardhan Puja?
It commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter the villagers of Vrindavan and their cattle from torrential rain sent by an angered Indra, after Krishna persuaded them to worship the hill instead of Indra.
What is Annakut?
Literally mountain of food — a large spread of vegetarian dishes prepared and offered on Govardhan Puja, symbolising gratitude and abundance.
Is Govardhan Puja publicly celebrated in Chandigarh?
It’s mainly a home and family observance in Chandigarh, typically folded into the wider Diwali celebrations, rather than a separate public event.
Which date is Govardhan Puja in Chandigarh in 2026?
The panchang date calculated for Chandigarh is Tuesday, 10 November 2026, while the Chandigarh Administration lists Monday, 9 November 2026 as a restricted holiday.
Is 9 November on the Chandigarh bank holiday list?
Govardhan Puja/Vishwakarma Day on Monday, 9 November 2026 is on the Chandigarh Administration list of holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Confirm with your bank branch.
When is Govardhan Puja in 2027?
Saturday, 30 October 2027 in the central government list and in the panchang calculated for Chandigarh.
Why is Vishwakarma Day on the same holiday?
The Chandigarh Administration names the 9 November 2026 restricted holiday Govardhan Puja/Vishwakarma Day, and Wikipedia says some craftsmen worship their tools on the day of Annakut.
Sources
- Chandigarh Administration Home Department, holidays for 2026 (notification of 30 December 2025)
- Drik Panchang, Govardhan Puja 2026 for Chandigarh
- Department of Personnel and Training, holidays 2027
- Drik Panchang, Govardhan Puja 2027 for Chandigarh
- ISKCON Chandigarh, Vaishnava calendar
- Wikipedia, Govardhan Puja
- Wikipedia, Vishvakarma Puja
The facts added to this page on 20 September 2026 were checked against the sources above.
