Bali Padyami and Govardhana Puja are celebrated the day after Diwali, followed by Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam. In 2026, Bali Padyami/Govardhana Puja falls on November 10, and Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam is on November 11. These days also mark the start of Karthika Masam.
Once the crackers and lamps of Diwali night are done, the next morning feels quieter. The rangoli colours are smudged and oil stains remain in the lamps. Many people assume the festival is over. But Diwali is a five-day festival, and two important days still follow Lakshmi Puja: Bali Padyami and Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam. This last post in the series covers their 2026 dates, the stories behind them, and how to observe them at home.
For the full map of the five-day festival, read our Deepavali 2026 complete guide.
What Are the 2026 Dates for Bali Padyami, Govardhana Puja and Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam
- Bali Padyami / Govardhana Puja: 10 November 2026 (According to some calendars, the Padyami tithi begins on the afternoon of 9 November).
- Start of Karthika Masam: Karthika holy baths begin on the morning of 10 November 2026.
- Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam: 11 November 2026.
- Significance: These days symbolize the strong bond between brothers and sisters.
In 2026, Bali Padyami and Govardhana Puja fall on Tuesday, 10 November, and Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam on Wednesday, 11 November. Because the Padyami tithi begins on the afternoon of 9 November, some calendars list Bali Padyami on the 9th. Most panchangams, including Drik Panchang, give the 10th as the main date. Follow your family’s panchangam.
Karthika Masam also begins on 10 November, with the Karthika holy baths starting that morning. As the lights of Diwali fade, the season of Karthika lamps begins. For timings in other cities, see the series pillar guide.
| Festival Name | Reason and Story Background | Who Observes It |
|---|---|---|
| Bali Padyami | The boon granted by Lord Vamana to Emperor Bali. | Observed as a general puja in many regions. |
| Govardhana Puja | To honor Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhana mountain. | Mainly in Vaishnava temples and North Indian families. |
| Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam | The episode of Lord Yama visiting his sister Yamuna’s house. | All brothers and sisters. |
One point matters here. Bali Padyami and Govardhana Puja fall on the same day, but they are separate festivals with separate stories: one is about Vamana and Bali, the other about Krishna lifting Govardhana hill. They should not be merged into one.
What Is Bali Padyami and What Does Bali’s Story Tell Us
Bali Padyami is the first day of the bright fortnight of Karthika, the day after Diwali Amavasya, when Emperor Bali is remembered. Bali was a generous asura king and the grandson of Prahlada, who had conquered all three worlds.
According to the Vamana story in the 8th Skanda of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Vishnu came to Bali’s sacrifice as Vamana, a short Brahmin boy, to protect the gods, and asked for three steps of land. Though his guru Shukracharya warned him, Bali did not go back on his word. Vamana grew into a cosmic form and measured the earth and sky in two steps. When asked where to place the third, Bali humbly offered his own head.
Vamana placed his foot on Bali’s head and sent him to the Sutala realm, granting him the boon of ruling there and promising to guard his door himself (Bhagavatam 8.22.33). Remember one thing: Vamana did not kill Bali. The Bhagavatam does not say so.
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The Karthika Masa Mahatmyam of the Skanda Purana is said to mention a festival for Bali during the Diwali season. On Bali Padyami, many homes draw a rangoli in front of the house, light a lamp and remember Bali. Customs vary by region and family.
Bali’s story is about giving, keeping one’s word, and bowing one’s head without pride.
Why Is Govardhana Puja Performed
Govardhana Puja commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhana hill to protect Gokula. Chapters 24 and 25 of the 10th Skanda of the Srimad Bhagavatam tell the story.
The people of Gokula held a yearly sacrifice for Indra. When young Krishna said it was better to honour Govardhana hill and the cows, which gave the cattle grass and water, they worshipped the hill that year instead. Angered, Indra sent torrential rain. The Bhagavatam says Krishna lifted Govardhana with one hand, held it like an umbrella and sheltered the people and cattle of Gokula beneath it for seven days. Popular images show him holding it on his little finger.
In ISKCON and other Vaishnava temples, a mountain of dishes called Annakutam is offered to the deity on this day. It is not a custom in every Telugu home; it is seen mostly in temples and North Indian families. If there is a Vaishnava temple near you, you could visit for the Annakutam darshan in the evening.
The message is easy for children: respect the nature and animals that feed us, and protect those in trouble together.
What Is Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam and the Story of Yama and Yamuna
Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam means “a meal from a sister’s hand”. On the fifth day of Diwali, the second day of the bright fortnight of Karthika, brothers visit their sisters and eat a meal she has cooked and served herself. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 11 November. It is also called Yama Dwitiya, and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams announcements use the name Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam.
Chapter 122 of the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana tells the story behind it. Yama’s sister Yamuna kept inviting her brother home for a meal, but Yama was always too busy. Finally, on this Dwitiya, he went to her home. Delighted, Yamuna bathed him, applied a tilak and served him a meal she had cooked. Pleased by her affection, Yama granted her a boon.
The Purana’s promise that a brother who eats at his sister’s home on this day need not fear Yama is a matter of faith. It should not be read as a guarantee of long life. The real beauty of the custom is the bond between brother and sister.
How to Observe Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam at Home
Usually the brother bathes early and goes to his sister’s home. She applies a tilak, in some homes performs a small Harathi, and serves him food she has cooked. After the meal, the brother gives his sister new clothes or a gift and blessings are exchanged depending on age.
There is no fixed menu. Cooking even one dish the brother has loved since childhood makes the day complete. Payasam, Pulihora and Garelu appear in many homes.
Today, brothers and sisters often live in different cities or countries. Those who cannot travel make a video call, eat at a cousin sister’s home nearby, or feed someone in their sister’s name. Those without a sister often eat at the home of a cousin or a relative they regard as a sister.
A morsel from a sister’s hand and a small gift from a brother are all Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam needs.
The Five Days of Diwali at a Glance
For readers who have followed the whole series, here is the order once more. Day one, Dhanatrayodashi: clean the house and light the Yama Deepam in the evening. Day two, Naraka Chaturdashi: the oil bath before dawn. Day three, Amavasya: Lakshmi Puja, Kedara Gowri Vratam and lamps. Day four: Bali Padyami, Govardhana Puja and the start of Karthika Masam. Day five: Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam.
Each day has its own part in this series, and all dates and muhurtams are together in the series pillar guide.
One Thing to Do Today
Call your sister today, tell her you will come home for Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam on 11 November, and remind her which dish you have loved since childhood.
What Comes After Diwali
Karthika Masam begins the day after Diwali’s lights fade. When and how to take the Karthika holy bath, what the Karthika Monday fast involves, and where to place the Karthika lamp at home will be answered in our next series.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Bali Padyami?
After Lord Vishnu (Vamana avatar) sent Emperor Bali to the netherworld, he granted him a boon to be worshipped on earth. The day of this worship is called Bali Padyami.
Why is Govardhana Puja performed?
Govardhana Puja is performed the day after Diwali, especially in Vaishnava temples, to commemorate Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhana mountain to protect Gokula from heavy rains.
When is Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam celebrated?
Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam is celebrated on the fifth day of the Diwali sequence, which is the Vidiya (second day) following Padyami. In 2026, it is on November 11.
Which Purana mentions the story of Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam?
The story of Lord Yama visiting his sister Yamuna's house and having a meal is detailed in the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana.
When does Karthika Masam begin?
Karthika Masam begins on the Padyami day immediately following the Diwali Amavasya. In 2026, the holy Karthika baths begin from the morning of November 10.
Sources
Information checked: 21 October 2026. Dates and times follow Drik Panchang; final check on 5 November.
