Annakut at Hindu temples explained: the mountain of food the day after Diwali

What is Annakut, and why do temples pile up food the day after Diwali? Annakut means "a mountain of food". It is another name for Govardhan Puja, kept on Kartika Shukla Pratipada, the day after the Diwali Amavasya. Temples arrange dozens or hundreds of vegetarian dishes in tiers before the deities, often around a central heap of cooked grain that stands for Govardhan hill, as thanks for the year. After the offering, the food is shared as prasad. Customs vary by family and region; your family pandit's guidance comes first. In 2026 the drikpanchang calendar for New Delhi lists Govardhan Puja and Annakut on Tuesday 10 November.

The Govardhan story behind it

The story comes from the Bhagavata Purana. The cowherds of Braj used to worship Indra, the god of rain. Young Krishna asked them to honour Govardhan hill, which fed their cattle, instead. Indra, offended, sent seven days of storm and rain. Krishna lifted Govardhan on his little finger, and the whole village sheltered under it with their cows until Indra gave way.

So Annakut is a festival of gratitude. Wikipedia's summary puts it neatly: the first Diwali days lean towards prayers for wealth, while this fourth day turns to thanking Krishna.

What happens on the day

At home, many North Indian families shape a small Govardhan from cow dung, add tiny cows and twigs or grass for trees, and offer food in the evening. A common number is 56 items, the chappan bhog. Some families also light diyas or keep a fast.

At temples the scale grows. The usual pattern:

• Sweets nearest the deity, with savouries, curries and other dishes in rows or steps below.
• A central mound of cooked grain, usually rice, standing for the hill.
• Thaal kirtans (songs asking God to accept the meal) and an arti once the offering is complete.
• Prasad for everyone later in the day.

How some well-known temples hold it

Nathdwara, Rajasthan

The Shrinathji temple at Nathdwara is dedicated to Krishna shown with one arm raised, holding up Govardhan. That makes Annakut a natural high point there. Worship follows the Pushtimarg tradition and is led by male descendants of its founder, Vallabha. A late 18th century painting of Shrinathji at the autumn Annakut festival shows how old the celebration is. Wikipedia's Annakut article adds that in Mathura and Nathdwara the deities are bathed in milk and dressed in fine clothes and jewellery for the day. Nathdwara has its own customs for sharing the food; ask locally rather than relying on second-hand accounts.

BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs

For BAPS, Annakut is often the biggest festival of the year, held across its mandirs and centres worldwide. Sadhus arrange the offering in the morning, thaal kirtans run for about an hour, an arti follows, and devotees receive the prasad later. A Guinness World Record claim credits BAPS Atladra Mandir in Gujarat with the largest Annakut, more than 3,500 dishes on 27 October 2019.

• Neasden, London. The mandir's Hindu New Year page says the day after Diwali is traditionally celebrated with the Annakut, an offering of hundreds of vegetarian dishes to thank God for the past year and seek blessings for the next. Visitors can sponsor a prasad-thali in the Annakut. For current details the mandir points people to neasdentemple.org/diwali. See also our Neasden Temple visit guide.
• Parsippany, New Jersey. Local reporting on the 2023 celebration quoted a volunteer saying over 700 food items were offered, arranged in tiers in front of the deities, with preparation starting early in the morning.
• Abu Dhabi and other mandirs. We could not find an official page describing the Annakut arrangements at BAPS Abu Dhabi, Robbinsville or Toronto, so we are not describing them here. Check each mandir's own site. Our BAPS Abu Dhabi guide covers general visiting rules.

When is Annakut in 2026?

Annakut follows the Pratipada tithi, so the date can differ by country.

• India (New Delhi): Tuesday 10 November 2026. Drikpanchang gives the Govardhan Puja Pratahkala muhurat as 6:40 to 8:50 AM.
• UK and North America: the day can fall a day earlier than in India; our Govardhan article below gives the London and New York dates.

These are for those cities only. Check your own city on /panchang, and remember your temple or family tradition may differ. A temple may announce its own day and darshan times, so its notice is what counts. We have not listed any 2026 temple event times because none were on official temple pages when we checked. For the wider festival, see Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj 2026 in India vs abroad.

Visitor etiquette on Annakut day

Annakut is one of the busiest days of the year at many mandirs. A few simple habits help:

1. Check the temple's own website for darshan times, parking and any timed entry. Avoid booking or donating through look-alike sites; see how to spot fake temple booking websites.
2. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Rules vary, so read temple dress codes by temple.
3. Expect to remove shoes and to queue.
4. Look, but follow photo rules. Some mandirs do not allow photography inside the shrine area.
5. Do not touch the display. The dishes are an offering; volunteers handle them.
6. Receive prasad with the right hand, or both hands, and do not waste it.
7. Bring an offering if you wish. Some temples let you sponsor a thali or bring a home-made vegetarian dish; ask first, as many have food-safety rules about what they can accept.
8. Arrive early if you want to see the arti. The offering is usually complete by late morning at BAPS mandirs.

Annakut and the Gujarati New Year

For many Gujarati families, the same day is the new year (drikpanchang lists Gujarati New Year on 10 November 2026 in New Delhi), following Chopda Pujan on Diwali night. Neasden's page, too, places Annakut on its Hindu New Year. Read more in Chopda Pujan, Sharda Puja and the Gujarati New Year.

Questions people ask

Is Annakut the same as Govardhan Puja? Yes. They are two names for the same day, Kartika Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali. Some traditions stress the hill puja, others the food offering.

Why is the food stacked like a hill? The heap, especially the central mound of grain, represents Govardhan, the hill Krishna lifted to protect Braj.

How many dishes are offered? It varies. Homes often prepare 56 items, BAPS Parsippany reported over 700 in 2023, and Atladra's 2019 Annakut is claimed as the largest at more than 3,500.

Can non-Hindus visit on Annakut day? BAPS Neasden describes its Diwali and New Year celebrations as open to all. Other temples set their own rules, so check before going.

Can I take the prasad home? Many temples hand out prasad packs. Arrangements differ, so follow the volunteers' directions.

Why is Annakut on a different date in London or New York? Festival days follow the tithi at local sunrise, so they can fall a day earlier or later abroad. See /panchang for your city.