Vaishnava festival
Govardhana Pūjā: Krishna lifts the hill
The day Govardhana Hill is worshipped with a mountain of food, and the cows are honoured.
What is celebrated
The cowherds of Vrindavan were about to make their yearly sacrifice to Indra, the lord of rain. Krishna, who was a child, suggested they worship Govardhana Hill instead, since it gave grass to the cows and water to everyone.
Indra, offended, unleashed a storm that threatened to wipe out the village. Krishna then lifted the hill with the little finger of His left hand and held it up for seven days, like an umbrella, with all the people and animals sheltering beneath it. Indra understood who that child was and asked for forgiveness.
From this comes one of Krishna’s names, Giridhārī, “the one who holds up the hill”.
How it is celebrated
- There is no fast.
- A hill made of food, rice and sweets, called annakūṭa, is prepared, and devotees walk around it singing.
- The cows are worshipped and fed; that is why the day is also called Go-pūjā.
- Afterwards the mountain of prasādam is shared among everyone.
- It is celebrated the day after Dīpāvalī, the festival of lights.
In 2026 it falls on 9 November 2026, according to the calendar calculated for London. Vaishnava dates follow the moon and change every year: check them in the calendar. Each temple organises its own programme; ask at your nearest one.