Pushti Marg — observances and vrat guides
Pushti Marg expresses devotion through seva to Krishna, especially Shrinathji, with attention to the daily and seasonal life of the haveli. Festival food is often an offering before it is a meal, and the changing seasons influence bhog, dress and celebration. Ekadashi discipline belongs within that larger devotional rhythm rather than replacing it. The calendar includes Krishna-centred festivals and tradition-specific observances whose meaning is not exhausted by a generic fasting label. Household seva and an individual haveli's schedule can differ in detail. These guides help readers distinguish a seasonal celebration from a vow with explicit food restrictions.
The catalog currently includes 19 distinct entries in this collection. Examples are Ekadashi; Janmashtami; Annakut & Govardhan Puja; Phoolon wali Holi; Hindola Utsav. Their recorded devotional focus includes Shrinathji (Balamukundan — child Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan); Shrinathji / Balamukundan — Krishna as the divine child who lifted Govardhan; Shrinathji — Govardhan Puja · Chappan Bhog seva · day after Deepawali; Shrinathji — Falgun Purnima · spring Holi with fragrant flowers; Shrinathji on the Hindola (swing) — Ashadha–Shravana seva festival. Follow the individual links below for the full description, calendar dates, mantra and allowed or avoided foods; each link leads to a dedicated observance page rather than a search result.
Calendar dates are references, not a substitute for the observance rules of your chosen city and community. Lunar days can cross civil-date boundaries, and regional practice can change which day is kept. Meal suggestions are optional ideas for an allowed meal, not instructions to eat during a complete fast. Children, pregnant people and anyone with a medical condition should seek appropriate advice before fasting. Compare the linked guides with your family or temple's practice and choose a discipline suited to your health.
All 19 observances in this collection
- Ekadashi — January 14, 2026
Ekadashi in Pushti Marg is not primarily a day of austerity — it is a day of deepened seva (devotional service) to Shrinathji. The grain-free discipline clears the mind for focused bhog and darshan. Every item of food is prepared with devotion, offered to Shrinathji first, and received back as prasad. Ekadashi comes twice each lunar month — on the 11th tithi of the waxing and waning moon. Vikram Samvat 2082–2083
- Janmashtami — September 4, 2026
Janmashtami is the supreme celebration of the Pushti Marg year — the appearance of Krishna himself, who is Shrinathji. Devotees fast until midnight, then celebrate with elaborate seva: bathing the svarupa, dressing it in new clothes, and offering the Chappan Bhog (56 food items). The next day, Nandotsav, celebrates the joy of Nanda Maharaj — a day of festivity, prasad distribution, and communal rejoicing
- Annakut & Govardhan Puja — November 9, 2026
Annakut ('mountain of food') is the pinnacle seva day of the Pushti Marg calendar — falling on Kartik Shukla 1, the day after Deepawali. Govardhan Puja honours Krishna's lifting of Mount Govardhan. In Pushti Marg, this is not a fast day at all: it is the day of maximum bhog, maximum seva, and maximum joyful offering. Nathdwara temple creates a literal 'mountain of food' before Shrinathji's svarupa
- Phoolon wali Holi — February 27, 2026
Phoolon wali Holi (Holi with flowers) is the Pushti Marg tradition of celebrating Holi on Falgun Purnima with fragrant flowers rather than synthetic colours. Shrinathji's svarupa is showered with roses, marigolds, and spring blossoms. Devotees gather at the haveli to sing Holi songs, play with flowers, and share thandai and prasad — re-enacting the Braj Holi of Krishna's time
- Hindola Utsav — July 30, 2026
Hindola Utsav is the beloved swing festival (jhoola seva) of Pushti Marg, beginning on Shravan Krishna 1 — the day after Guru Purnima — and continuing through the monsoon. Each day Shrinathji's svarupa is placed on a beautifully decorated swing, adorned with flowers, fruit garlands, gemstones, and seasonal materials. Devotees swing the Hindola gently while singing traditional Hindola kirtans. This calendar date marks the start of the Utsav (2026: Jul 30 · 2027: Jul 19)
- Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji Jayanti — May 13, 2026
Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji Jayanti — the appearance day of the Acharya Mahaprabhuji at Champaranya on Vaishakh Krishna Ekadashi, 1479 CE. Mahaprabhuji established the Pushti Marg, gave the Brahma-Sambandha diksha, composed the Shodash Granth and the Subodhini commentary on the Bhagavata, and journeyed three times across Bharat performing parikrama (84 Baithakji sites preserve the spots where he sat and gave katha). Every Pushti Marg haveli, every Vallabha-vamsha home altar, and every Brahma-Sambandhi initiate observes Mahaprabhuji Jayanti as the highest Acharya-utsav of the year.
- Shri Vitthalnathji Gusainji Pragatya — February 12, 2026
Shri Vitthalnathji Gusainji Pragatya — the appearance day of Mahaprabhuji's son Gusainji at Charanat on Magh Krishna Navami, 1515 CE. Gusainji organized the entire Pushti Marg seva-system — the seven nidhi-svarups (Shrinathji, Mathuradhishji, Vitthalnathji, Dwarkadhishji, Gokulnathji, Madanmohanji, Balkrishnaji) entrusted to his seven sons; the eight-time daily haveli seva (Mangala, Shringar, Gwala, Rajbhog, Utthapan, Bhog, Sandhya-Aarti, Shayan); the Ashtachhap kavi-mandali; and the formal seva-rasa categories.
- Shrinathji Swayam-vyakta Prakatya Utsav — December 23, 2026
Shrinathji Swayam-vyakta Prakatya Utsav — the anniversary of Shrinathji's full self-manifestation from Mt. Govardhan, observed on Margashirsha Shukla Chaturdashi per the Pushti Marg seva-calendar. The Govardhan-Mukharavinda murti revealed itself in three stages: the left arm to Madhavendra Puri (1410 CE), the face to local Vraja-vasis (~1479 CE — the year of Mahaprabhuji's birth), and the complete murti under Mahaprabhuji's seva (1493 CE). Vallabhacharya established Shrinathji's first formal seva at Jatipura on Mt. Govardhan in 1499 CE, where the murti remained until the 1672 transfer to Nathdwara.
- Shrinathji Nathdwara Pravesh Patotsav — February 10, 2026
Shrinathji Nathdwara Pravesh Patotsav — the anniversary of Shrinathji's installation at Nathdwara on Magh Krishna Saptami (Falgun Krishna Saptami in Amanta panchang, 1672 CE), observed annually as the most important seva-pith utsav at the Nathdwara haveli. Lakhs of Pushti Marg vaishnavas reach Nathdwara for the Patotsav darshan, the special abhisheka, and the Mewari-Vraja bhog seva.
- Chandan Yatra (Akshay Tritiya — Shrinathji Chandan Seva) — April 19, 2026
Chandan Yatra — Akshay Tritiya marks the start of the 21-day Chandan Seva of Shrinathji at the Nathdwara haveli, lasting until Vaishakh Purnima. Sandalwood paste is applied to the entire anga of Shrinathji daily through this period, cooling the Lord through the height of Mewar summer. The first-of-season mango is offered to Shrinathji on this day, and the haveli moves to the summer seva-rasa with cooling thandai, am-panna, and chilled bhog.
- Rath Yatra (Shrinathji Rath Yatra — Pushti Marg) — July 16, 2026
Rath Yatra — Pushti Marg observance of Krishna's chariot-journey, on Ashadh Shukla Dwitiya (the same day as the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra). Shrinathji is brought from the antargriha onto a flower-decked rath at the Nathdwara haveli, and pulled by lakhs of Pushti Marg vaishnavas through the haveli precincts and town streets. Mathuradhishji at Kota and Dwarkadhishji at Kankroli observe parallel Rath Yatras at their respective havelis.
- Pavitra Ekadashi (Pavitra Seva to Shrinathji) — August 24, 2026
Pavitra Ekadashi — Shravan Shukla Ekadashi, the unique Pushti Marg observance of offering pavitra-garlands (sacred-thread garlands of 24 or 108 knots) to Shrinathji at the Nathdwara haveli and at every Pushti Marg home altar, to atone for any seva-shortcomings of the past year and to enter the Janmashtami-Annakut-Diwali high-seva season with perfected bhakti.
- Sharad Purnima (Shrinathji Maha Ras Utsav) — October 25, 2026
Sharad Purnima — the autumn full moon night of the Maha Ras-leela, observed in Pushti Marg as the supreme rasa-utsav of the year at the Nathdwara haveli. The haveli is decorated as the Vrindavan kunja-mandap, the Shrinathji-svarup is in Ras-Vihari shringar, the kheer-bhog is offered at midnight under the moonlight courtyard (the moon's rays are held to infuse the kheer with amrit-property), and the Ras Panchadhyayi padas are sung through the night by the Ashtachhap kirtan-mandali tradition.
- Damodar Maas (Kartik Diya-Seva for Shrinathji) — October 26, 2026
Damodar Maas — the entire month of Kartik observed in Pushti Marg as the supreme daily-seva month of the year. From the day after Sharad Purnima until Kartik Purnima (~one lunar month), every Pushti Marg vaishnava performs daily diya-seva for Shrinathji-Damodar, daily Damodarashtaka recitation, daily til-gud bhog, and daily Tulsi-puja. The dates given here mark the start of Damodar Maas (the day after Sharad Purnima) — observance continues for the entire month.
- Vasantotsav (Vasant Panchami — Pushti Marg Spring Opening) — January 23, 2026
Vasantotsav — Vasant Panchami (Magh Shukla Panchami), the Pushti Marg opening of the 40-day spring seva-rasa at the Shrinathji haveli. The haveli moves from winter Damodar-rasa to spring Vasant-rasa, the shringar turns to yellow vastra and marigold flowers, the bhog turns to kesari and yellow, and the Ashtachhap Vasanta-rasa padas are sung daily. The 40-day season culminates in Holi (Phalgun Purnima) at the haveli.
- Holi Dahan & Dol Utsav (Phalgun Purnima — Pushti Marg) — March 3, 2026
Holi Dahan & Dol Utsav — the Pushti Marg observance of Phalgun Purnima (Holika Dahan) and the following Phalgun Krishna Pratipada (Dol Utsav / Dhulendi), distinct from the Phoolon wali Holi (which is the haveli's flower-only Holi a few days earlier). The Holika Dahan is preceded by Phag-rasa kirtan, and the Dol Utsav drenches the haveli courtyard in gulal, abir, kesar, and flower-petals while the Ashtachhap Phag-rasa padas are sung continuously.
- Khichdi Utsav (Makar Sankranti — Pushti Marg Winter Khichdi-Seva) — January 14, 2026
Khichdi Utsav — Makar Sankranti (gregorian-fixed at January 14, the only Hindu utsav fixed to a solar date rather than a lunar tithi), observed in Pushti Marg as the haveli's principal winter-bhog utsav. Shrinathji is offered warm khichdi with ghee, kadhi, til-gud ladoo, til-chikki, and gajar halwa through the height of the Mewar winter. Makar Sankranti is also the universal Uttarayana-arambh, the start of the sun's six-month northward journey.
- Shri Yamunaji Pragatya (Yamuna Jayanti) — March 23, 2026
Shri Yamunaji Pragatya — the appearance day of Shri Yamunaji on Chaitra Shukla Shashti, three days before Ram Navami. Yamunaji is Pushti Marg's presiding devi-svarup — Krishna's eternal beloved at Vraj, the river along whose banks the entire Krishna-lila unfolded, and the compassionate mother who opens the bhakta's heart to Vraj-bhakti. Mahaprabhuji's Yamunashtak (eight verses) is recited daily at every Pushti Marg haveli before Shrinathji-seva begins, and on her Pragatya day every Vallabha-vamsha home altar holds a special Yamunaji-paath.
- Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji Asurya-Vyamoha Leela (Tirobhava) — July 17, 2026
Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji Asurya-Vyamoha Leela — the tirobhava (disappearance) day of the founding Acharya at Hanuman Ghat, Kashi, on Ashadh Shukla Tritiya, 1531 CE. After completing his life-mission — establishing Pushti Marg, giving the Brahma-Sambandha diksha to thousands of disciples, composing the Shodash Granth and the Subodhini commentary, and completing three Bharat-parikramas (84 Baithakji sites preserve his katha-spots) — Mahaprabhuji entered the Ganga at Hanuman Ghat and merged into a column of brilliant flame. This day is observed across every Pushti Marg haveli, Vallabha-vamsha home altar, and Brahma-Sambandhi initiate as the supreme Acharya-tirobhava utsav of the year, paired with his Jayanti (Vaishakh Krishna Ekadashi) which is already in the calendar.