ISKCON Hare Krishna Mandir in Bhadaj, Ahmedabad, will celebrate Govardhan Puja and Annakuta Mahotsav on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, with religious ceremonies, cow worship, devotional music and the offering of a large collection of vegetarian food to Lord Krishna.

The festival will bring together devotees and visitors for a day of worship based on the Govardhan Lila, the story of Lord Sri Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Vrindavan from heavy rainfall sent by Indra, the king of the demigods. The temple has planned activities from 7.30 am to 9 pm, with the main ceremonies taking place in the evening.

The Annakuta offering will be one of the main features of the celebration. Devotees will prepare different varieties of food, including rice, dhal, halva, pakora, puri, sweets, cookies and milk-based dishes. These preparations will be arranged in the shape of a small mountain and offered to Lord Krishna. After the religious ceremony, the food will be distributed among devotees and visitors.

The festival follows a tradition observed by Krishna devotees during the Hindu month of Kartik, which falls during October and November. It recalls the events described in the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, where Krishna asks the residents of Vrindavan to worship Govardhan Hill instead of performing a sacrifice for Indra.

The account in the Srimad Bhagavatam describes how Krishna questioned the annual preparations for Indra’s worship. He explained that the people of Vrindavan depended on their cows, the surrounding forests and Govardhan Hill for their livelihood. He asked them to honour these sources of support instead.

The residents accepted Krishna’s suggestion and prepared a large feast. They offered rice, cooked dishes, sweets and dairy products to Govardhan Hill. Krishna then appeared in a huge form and accepted the offerings. The event angered Indra, who sent heavy rain and thunderstorms over Vrindavan.

Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill with the little finger of His left hand and gave shelter to the residents and their cattle. According to the traditional account, He held the hill for seven days and seven nights. Indra later understood his mistake, approached Krishna and asked for forgiveness. The story is described in Chapters 24 to 27 of the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam.

The festival also draws attention to the place of cows in Krishna worship. Krishna is known as Gopala, meaning the protector of cows. In the story, the residents of Vrindavan depend on cattle for milk and other dairy products, while their animals graze on the land around Govardhan Hill. Cow worship therefore forms an important part of the annual observance.

At Hare Krishna Mandir, the Go Puja ceremony will include the worship of decorated cows. An Arati will also be performed for Gopala. Devotees will sing devotional songs, including Yashomati Nandan, while the story of Govardhan Lila will be narrated to those attending the celebration.

The Annakuta preparation will involve several food items made from grains, ghee and milk. The list includes rice, dhal, halva, pakora and puri, along with sweet rice, rabri, sweet balls, sandesha, rasagulla and laddu. Cakes and cookies will also form part of the offering. According to the temple’s announcement, its devotees prepare these items in the temple bakery, and the products are 100 per cent vegetarian.

The food arrangements follow the traditional idea of presenting a mountain-shaped collection of dishes to Krishna. Once the offering is completed, the food becomes prasadam, or food offered to the deity, and is shared with devotees and visitors. The practice gives the Annakuta celebration a community aspect, as people attending the event can receive the food after the worship.

A special Arati will be performed for the temple deities, Sri Sri Radha Madhav. During this ceremony, devotees will sing Sri Govardhan Ashtakam, a prayer made up of eight verses praising Govardhan Hill. The temple will also hold its Deepotsav Arati at 8.30 pm. This forms part of the temple’s month-long Deepotsav observances during Kartik.

The evening programme will begin with Bhajan Sandhya at 4.30 pm, giving devotees time to take part in devotional singing before the main ceremonies. A Swarna Ratha Yatra is scheduled for 6.30 pm, followed by Go Puja at 6.45 pm. Govardhan Puja will take place at 7.15 pm, while the final Deepotsav Arati is planned for 8.30 pm.

The temple will remain open for darshan from 7.30 am to 9 pm. Visitors can attend the celebrations at ISKCON Hare Krishna Mandir, Bhadaj, opposite Ahmedabad Dental College, near Science City, Ahmedabad.

The timing of the celebration also places it within the wider Kartik festival period, when ISKCON temples and Krishna devotees observe special prayers and religious activities. Deepotsav, which involves lighting lamps and offering prayers, is among the regular observances during this month. The Govardhan Puja celebrations bring together these traditions through worship, devotional music, food offerings and the lighting of lamps.

For devotees, the Govardhan Lila carries a message about faith in Krishna’s protection and respect for nature and cattle. The worship of Govardhan Hill and cows remains central to the festival’s religious meaning. The sharing of Annakuta prasadam also allows people from different backgrounds to take part in the celebration.

With the Annakuta offering, Swarna Ratha Yatra, Go Puja, and evening prayers, Hare Krishna Mandir’s November 10 programme will follow the traditional Govardhan Puja observance while allowing Ahmedabad residents to take part in the annual Kartik celebrations.