Govardhan Puja in Dwarka

Date and timing in this city

In Dwarka, India, Govardhan Puja falls on Tuesday 10 November 2026. The following year it falls on Saturday 30 October 2027. These are the dates computed for Dwarka's own sunrise, in the Asia/Kolkata time zone.

The observance belongs to Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first tithi of the bright fortnight of Kartik. Because the tithi is reckoned from local sunrise, the day on which Pratipada is current at sunrise is the day the puja is kept in that place. Dwarka's longitude places it well west within India, and that position is part of why its sunrise — and therefore its tithi window — is worked out for the city itself rather than borrowed from a general panchang.

The deity of the day is Krishna, and the observance is Annakut — the offering of a mountain of food. Dwarka is closely associated with Krishna, so the day carries a particular resonance here.

Why the date can differ from India

A single "all-India" date is a convenience, not a rule. Tithis do not change at a uniform clock time across the country; they are tied to the sunrise of each location. When Pratipada begins or ends near a sunrise boundary, cities a few hundred kilometres apart can end up observing on different civil days.

This is why the Dwarka date is stated separately. Readers in other parts of India — or abroad — should treat the dates above as correct for Dwarka and check their own city's panchang for their own sunrise. The same principle explains why festival dates sometimes appear to shift by a day between regions.

Where and how the community celebrates

Govardhan Puja in North India is commonly kept as Annakut: cooked grains, vegetables, sweets and other preparations are arranged in a heap before the deity, recalling the Govardhan hill that Krishna lifted. In Dwarka, with its long Krishna association, the day sits naturally within the Kartik observances.

Customs vary. Some households and communities follow Smarta practice, others Vaishnava; some reckon the month as purnimanta, others as amanta. The brief here states only that the tithi is Kartik Shukla Pratipada and the observance is Annakut. Where your own family or sampradaya differs, follow the tradition you were raised in or the guidance of your elders and priest.

Practical tips

• Confirm the local sunrise and tithi window with a Dwarka panchang for the year you are observing.
• Prepare the Annakut offering according to your family's customary menu and method.
• If you are travelling, note that the date is fixed for Dwarka's sunrise, not for your home city.
• For questions about your own chart or personal observance, consult a qualified jyotishi.