Govatsa Dwadashi is a unique Hindu festival that is dedicated to worshipping the cows as a thanksgiving gesture for their help in sustaining the human life. It is also popularly known as ‘Nandini Vrat’ and is observed on the ‘Dwadashi’ (12th day) of the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (the period of waning phase of moon) in the ‘Ashwin’ month of the traditional Hindu calendar. This date falls in the months of October to November in the English calendar. Govatsa Dwadashi falls one day before the celebrations of ‘Dhanteras’. On Govatsa Dwadashi Hindu devotees worship ‘Nandini’, the divine cow. It is believed that by doing so all their wishes will be fulfilled. It is celebrated with immense enthusiasm in all parts of the country. In Maharashtra this day is observed as ‘Vasu Baras’ and is the first day of the Deepavali festivities. On Govatsa Dwadashi, the ‘Sripada Vallabha Aradhana Utsav’ is held at Pithapuram Datta Mahasamsthan in the state of Andhra Pradesh while in Gujarat it is celebrated as ‘Vagh Baras’.
Significance
of Govatsa Dwadashi:
The significance and legend of
Govatsa Dwadashi is mentioned in the ‘Bhavishya Purana’. The purana also states
the story of Nandini, the Divine cow and her calves. In Hinduism, cows are
considered very sacred. They are even worshipped as holy mothers as they offer
nourishment to mankind. On Govatsa Dwadashi women keep a fast for a long life
of her children. It is a popular belief that if a childless couple perform the
Govatsa Dwadashi puja dedicatedly and keep a fast, they will be blessed with
happiness of a child. In some parts of Northern India, Govatsa Dwadashi is also
referred as ‘Vagh’, which implies repaying one’s financial debts. Therefore on
this chosen day businessmen clear their accounts book and do not make further
transactions in their new ledgers. A person who worships cows on Govatsa
Dwadashi will be bestowed with abundance and healthy life.
Rituals
during Govatsa Dwadashi:
- Cows are worshipped on Govatsa Dwadashi. A
ritualistic bath is given and vermillion is applied on the forehead. The
cows and their calves are then beautifully decorated with bright clothes
and garland of flowers.
- On Govatsa Dwadashi devotees also make
idols of cows and their calves from mud, if they cannot find a cow close
by. These mud idols are then adorned with kumkum and turmeric. An ‘aarti’
is performed in the evening.
- Various offerings are made to cows like
gram and sprouted moong. The offerings made are symbolic of Nandini on
earth.
- Devotees also offer prayers to Sri
Krishna, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and had profound gratitude
and love for cows.
- Women observe a vrat or fasting on this
day for the well-being of her children. They cannot eat or drink anything
during the day and can only take one meal. The observer of the Nandini
Vrat must refrain from physical activity and keep vigil all night. However
if a person desires to sleep, he/she must do so on the floor and avoid
sleeping on the bed.
- In some regions, people abstain from
drinking cow’s milk and consuming curd and ghee on the day of Govatsa
Dwadashi.
2017 Date : 16th October.
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