Festival Guide · After Diwali

Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj 2026: Dates and Timings

Govardhan Puja (Annakut) 2026 is on Tuesday, 10 November. Bhai Dooj follows on the Dwitiya tithi, which starts on the afternoon of 10 November and runs to the afternoon of 11 November, so the tilak is done on one of those two days depending on the calendar your family follows.

Key timings (New Delhi, IST)

Govardhan Puja	Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Pratipada tithi	9 Nov, 12:31 PM → 10 Nov, 2:00 PM
Sunrise 10 Nov (New Delhi)	6:39 AM
Dwitiya tithi (Bhai Dooj)	10 Nov, 2:00 PM → 11 Nov, 3:53 PM
Bhai Dooj tilak	10 or 11 November 2026 (see below)

Get your personal festival, muhurat and Panchang reminders

Govardhan Puja 2026

Govardhan Puja is performed on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali's Amavasya. Pratipada prevails at sunrise on 10 November (it runs until 2:00 PM), so the festival is on 10 November. Families build a hill of cow dung or food, offer an Annakut feast of many dishes to Krishna and circumambulate it in remembrance of Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan.

Bhai Dooj 2026: why two dates

Bhai Dooj is performed in the afternoon (Aparahna) of Shukla Dwitiya. In 2026 Dwitiya starts at 2:00 PM on 10 November and ends at 3:53 PM on 11 November. On 10 November it covers only the later part of the afternoon, and on 11 November it covers the afternoon until 3:53 PM. Different almanacs therefore list one or the other, and many families who follow the full-afternoon rule do the tilak on 11 November. Because the two views are both established, we recommend asking your family pandit, and we are not going to claim one is wrong.

Bhai Dooj tilak vidhi

Sisters apply a tilak of roli and rice to their brothers' forehead, offer sweets and perform aarti, praying for their long life. Brothers give a gift in return. The day is tied to the story of Yama visiting his sister Yamuna, so it is also called Yama Dwitiya.

Check by city

The tithi times are the same in all of India, but sunrise and the afternoon window vary slightly by city. Use the Churki Panchang to see your own sunrise and tithi.

Frequently asked questions

When is Govardhan Puja 2026?

Govardhan Puja is on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.

When is Bhai Dooj 2026?

Dwitiya runs from 2:00 PM on 10 November to 3:53 PM on 11 November 2026. Many calendars give 11 November for the tilak, and some give 10 November. Check with your family pandit.

Is Govardhan Puja the same day as Diwali?

No. In 2026 Diwali is on 8 November and Govardhan Puja on 10 November.

Get your personal festival, muhurat and Panchang reminders

More festival guides

Times are for New Delhi in Indian Standard Time and computed from real Sun and Moon positions (Lahiri ayanamsha). Other cities differ in sunrise, sunset and moonrise; traditions differ too, so confirm puja timing with your local pandit.