Diwali isn't over yet! The five days of Diwali continue, and in the USA the dates fall one day earlier than in India this year:
- Monday, November 9: Govardhan Puja and Annakut. Many Gujarati families also celebrate Bestu Varas (Gujarati New Year, Saal Mubarak!), and many Punjabi families mark Vishwakarma Day.
- Tuesday, November 10: Bhai Dooj (Bhau Beej / Bhai Phota), when sisters do tilak for their brothers and pray for their long life.
Here is a simple checklist for each day. Everything below is in stock at Indian Market & Liquor, 1546 Guerrero St, San Francisco (Noe Valley / Bernal Heights) and in our Govardhan Puja & Bhai Dooj shop.
1. Fresh paan leaves come first
Paan (betel) leaves are part of almost every puja thali: they hold the supari and coins for the offering, they go under the kalash with the coconut, and many families finish the Annakut meal with homemade meetha paan. Our fresh paan leaves are big, glossy and sold by the leaf, so you can buy exactly what you need. Pair them with paan mukhwas for after dinner.
2. Govardhan Puja thali checklist
Govardhan Puja remembers Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan hill to protect the people of Vrindavan. At home, families make a small “hill” out of atta dough, cooked rice or a heap of sweets, decorate it with tulsi or mint, place Krishna on top, and offer food. For the puja you'll want:
- Puja coconut (nariyal) and whole dry coconut
- Kumkum / sindoor, chandan powder and mauli (kalawa)
- Rose petals and garlands
- Diyas: brass jyoti diya, clay diyas, tulsi diyas and cotton wicks
- Camphor (kapoor) for aarti and havan samagri
- Copper kalash, Gangajal and a ready pooja thali set
- Rangoli colours for the entrance
3. Annakut: the “mountain of food”
Annakut means a mountain of food. Temples may offer 56 dishes, but at home a few simple vegetarian dishes are perfect. A typical home Annakut includes puris, kadhi, dal, rice, mixed vegetable sabzi, pickles and sweets. Your shopping list:
- Atta for puris: Chakki Atta 10 lb or Sujata Gold Atta
- Besan for kadhi and pakoras (short on time? try ready Kadhi Pakoda)
- Toor dal and desi ghee (or Amul cow ghee)
- Jaggery and misri for prasad
- Dry fruits for the bhog: almonds, cashews, pistachios, raisins and dry dates
- Fresh vegetables, paneer and coriander from our produce section
4. Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas): snacks for guests
On New Year morning, Gujarati families visit relatives and friends, so keep a tray of snacks and sweets ready: Gujarati chakri, masala khakhra, methi khakhra, and mukhwas such as Chandan Gujarati Mukhwas. Saal Mubarak!
5. Bhai Dooj: sweets and gifts for your brother
For the tilak you need kumkum, chandan, rice (akshat), a diya and something sweet. Popular choices:
- Kaju Katli gift pack, Motichoor Ladoo and Gulab Jamun
- Fresh Dass Sweets: assorted mithai, pista barfi, besan barfi
- Ready gift boxes: Mithai Sampler, Gift Pack with diyas and Haldiram's Patisa
- For younger brothers: Cadbury chocolate
Where to buy in San Francisco
Indian Market & Liquor, 1546 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (Noe Valley / Bernal Heights). Open daily 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Free 15-minute parking out front and curbside pickup.
- Order same-day delivery on our website: $10 off orders of $75+ is applied automatically through Nov 10.
- Prefer an app? We're also on Instacart, Uber Eats and DoorDash. See all options on our order page.
Happy Govardhan Puja, Saal Mubarak and Happy Bhai Dooj from all of us at Indian Market & Liquor! 🪔
