Govardhan Puja

What Govardhan Puja is

Govardhan Puja is Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the fourth day of Tihar. A small hill of cow dung stands for Mount Govardhan, which Lord Krishna lifted to shelter his village from the rain. The ox, which ploughs the fields, is worshipped (Goru Tihar). For the Newar community it is Mha Puja, the worship of one's own self, and the first day of the Nepal Sambat year.

How families keep it

Families make the Govardhan hill and worship it, honour their oxen and cattle, and boys go from house to house singing Deusi.

The days of Tihar

• Kag Tihar

  Saturday, November 7, 2026 · Kartik 21, 2083

  The first day of Tihar, when the crow, Yama's messenger, is fed.

• Laxmi Puja

  Sunday, November 8, 2026 · Kartik 22, 2083

  The third day of Tihar: homes are lit with lamps and Goddess Laxmi is welcomed.

• Kukur Tihar

  Sunday, November 8, 2026 · Kartik 22, 2083

  The second day of Tihar, when dogs are honoured with garlands, tika and food.

• Govardhan Puja

  Tuesday, November 10, 2026 · Kartik 24, 2083

  The fourth day of Tihar: Govardhan Puja, the worship of the ox, and Mha Puja.

• Bhai Tika

  Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · Kartik 25, 2083

  The last day of Tihar, when sisters put the seven-coloured tika on their brothers.

Govardhan Puja in the coming years

• 2026Tuesday, November 10, 2026Kartik 24, 2083
• 2027Saturday, October 30, 2027Kartik 13, 2084
• 2029Wednesday, November 7, 2029Kartik 21, 2086
• 2030Sunday, October 27, 2030Kartik 10, 2087
• 2031Saturday, November 15, 2031Kartik 29, 2088

Each date is the day Nepal keeps the festival. Nepal publishes its patro one year at a time, so a date further ahead can move by a day when that year's patro comes out. For a ceremony, Pandit Ji confirms the day and the muhurta.