Annakut At Nathdwara 2026: When Is It And How Can You Visit Shrinathji Temple?

The annual Annakut Utsav is celebrated at the historic Shrinathji Temple, also known as the Haveli of Shrinathji, in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. It is easily one of the most intense, sacred, and culturally striking festivals in Vaishnavism, as it celebrates the divine act of lifting the Govardhan Hill by Lord Krishna. This particular divine act was done in order to protect the people of Vrindavan, as per the legend behind the festival. If you’re keen on witnessing how this festival is celebrated, this unstumbled guide will help you create and navigate your travel plan with ease.

Official Annakut 2026 Dates And Festival Schedule

Shrinathji’s Haveli follows the tradition known as ‘Pushtimarg’, and as such, the temple calculates ritual dates based on the temple's specific Panchang and Pratipada Tithi. This year, the festival and ritual timings are as follows:

• Diwali Celebrations: Sunday, November 8th, 2026 (An evening cow procession and Govardhan Pooja Chowk rituals will take place.)
• Annakut Festival and Night Loot: Monday, November 9th, 2026
• Bhai Dooj: Wednesday, November 11th, 2026

Shrinathji Darshan Timings

Throughout the day, Shrinathji, the divine child, is served through eight short Jhanki (darshan) windows. Since each window lasts only 15 to 40 minutes, planning your arrival is critical.

Mangla: 5:15 AM To 6:15 AM

This is when the divine deity is woken up. It is arguably the quietest darshan window of all.

Shringar: 7:15 AM To 7:45 AM

The dressing and ornamenting of Shrinathji happens during this window.

Gwal: 9:15 AM To 9:45 AM

This is the playful window right before cattle grazing.

Rajbhog: 11:15 AM To 12:05 PM

This is when the main elaborate midday meal is offered.

Utthapan: 3:30 PM To 3:45 PM

This is the ritual of waking the deity up after the afternoon nap.

Bhog: 4:45 PM To 5 PM

This is a small offering of light fruit and snacks for the deity.

Sandhya Aarti: 5:15 PM To 6 PM

This is the lighting ritual of the evening.

Shayan: 6:50 PM To 7:30 PM

This is the final bedtime ritual prior to the closing of the Haveli doors.

Also Read: Kali Puja 2026 At Kalighat Temple: Darshan, Timings And How To Reach

What Happens During Annakut Night?

One of the most prominent rituals of this festival is the bringing of Annakut, which literally means a mountain of food, by more than a thousand pilgrims or Yatris to this holy temple town near Udaipur. The main Chhappan Bhog consists of more than 50 quintals of seasoned rice alongside hundreds of traditional sweets and savories, and it will be offered on Monday, the 9th of November.

This massive heap of food, which is also called Chhappan Bhog, is presented before the 7-year-old child manifestation of Lord Krishna as an offering. It is built directly in front of the deity inside the inner sanctum. The following are the important evening timelines that prospective devotees should keep in mind:

• 7:30 PM: The crowds begin packing into Haveli lanes and Nakkarkhana Chowk
• 9 PM to 10:30 PM: Main Annakut Darshan opens to pilgrims.
• 10:45 PM to 1 AM: Traditional "Annakut Loot" by tribal families.

Annakut also has a remarkable, centuries-old ritual called Annakut Loot that is performed by local Bhil and Meena tribal communities. Herein, members of these communities enter the inner courtyard around 10:45 PM to collect the blessed rice offerings in large cloth bags. Many devotees watch this historic ritual from designated outer courtyards and balcony lanes.

How To Reach Nathdwara And Transit Options

By Air

The closest airport to the temple is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur. It is around 60 km away and you can travel via pre-booked airport taxis take about 1 hour to reach Nathdwara via the NH 48 corridor.

By Train

The major train station closest to the Shrinathji Haveli is the Mavli Junction. It is around 28 km away from the temple area and is accessible via taxis and local buses.

By Road

The temple has excellent bus connectivity provided by the Rajasthan State Road Transportation Corporation (RSRTC) as well as private AC sleeper bus operators. It sees buses from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Jaipur.

Also Read: Why Is Diwali Celebrated Differently At Kamakhya Temple In Assam?

Summing Up

The Annakut at Nathdwara is one of the biggest, most intense celebrations for many devotees of Lord Vishnu. If you are planning to visit, make sure you book your stay weeks and months ahead.