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Gauvatsa Dwadashi (Vasu Baras) 2024 Significance of Cow Puja

Writer's picture: Narinder GuptaNarinder Gupta

Gauvatsa Dwadashi is a Hindu festival celebrated primarily in North India, particularly on the twelfth day (Dwadashi) of the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon phase) in the month of Kartika (October or November). This festival is dedicated to the worship of cows (referred to as Gau) and their calves, which are considered sacred in Hinduism.

Key Significance of Gauvatsa Dwadashi:

  1. Worship of Cows and Calves:

    • On Gauvatsa Dwadashi, cows and their calves are worshipped with great reverence. The cow is considered a symbol of motherhood, nourishment, and life. Cows are also associated with several Hindu deities, including Lord Krishna and Goddess Lakshmi.

  2. Rituals and Observances:

    • Devotees, especially women, bathe the cows and decorate them with flowers, turmeric, and kumkum. They offer food such as fresh grass, fruits, and special treats like wheat and jaggery to the cows.

    • The puja (worship) includes lighting lamps, performing aarti (ritual of waving lamps), and chanting prayers that express gratitude and seek blessings.

    • Mothers often observe fasts or take special vows (vrats) on this day, praying for the well-being and long life of their children. The worship is believed to ensure prosperity, health, and happiness in the family.

  3. Mythological Importance:

    • Gauvatsa Dwadashi is also connected to the mythology of Lord Krishna, who spent much of his childhood among cows, emphasizing their sacredness in Hindu culture.

    • In some traditions, cows are also seen as representations of Mother Earth (Bhudevi), nourishing all life forms.

Symbolism of the Cow:

  • The cow has a unique place in Hinduism due to its contributions to daily life, providing milk, butter, dung (used as fuel and fertilizer), and other essentials. Worshipping cows symbolizes gratitude for nature's bounty and reinforces values of non-violence and respect for all living beings.

Overall, Gauvatsa Dwadashi is a festival that celebrates the cultural, ecological, and spiritual importance of cows, reinforcing the connection between humans, animals, and nature. It also serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted values of nurturing and compassion in Hindu philosophy.


Gauvatsa Dwadashi involves the worship of cows (referred to as "Gau" in Sanskrit and Hindi) and their calves. This festival is deeply rooted in Hindu traditions, where cows are revered as sacred animals due to their nurturing qualities and association with divinity, particularly with Lord Krishna, who is known for his love for cows.

Key Aspects of Gau Worship on Gauvatsa Dwadashi:

  1. Purification and Decoration of Cows:

    • On this day, cows and their calves are bathed and decorated with flowers, garlands, turmeric, and vermilion (kumkum). Sometimes, their horns and hooves are also painted with bright colors to honor their significance.

  2. Offerings to Cows:

    • Devotees offer cows a variety of foods, such as fresh grass, grains, sweets, and fruits. Popular offerings include wheat, gram, jaggery, and water. These offerings are symbolic of nourishment and gratitude towards cows for their contributions to society.

  3. Worship Ritual (Puja):

    • Women typically lead the worship ceremony. They perform the ritual by lighting lamps, offering prayers, and circling around the cows (called parikrama). This ritual is believed to invoke blessings for family prosperity, health, and longevity.

    • Prayers and mantras are chanted in praise of cows, acknowledging their sacred status and their role in sustaining life.

  4. Spiritual Significance:

    • Cows are seen as embodiments of nurturing and selfless service because they provide milk and other products that sustain life. Worshipping cows during Gauvatsa Dwadashi is seen as an expression of gratitude to these animals for their role in human well-being.

    • In Hinduism, cows are considered to be associated with Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and are also seen as vehicles of Dharma (righteousness).

  5. Blessings for Children:

    • Mothers especially perform this puja to seek blessings for the well-being, health, and long life of their children, with the belief that such worship will bring prosperity to the family.

In essence, the worship of cows on Gauvatsa Dwadashi is a reverence for life, nature, and the bond between humans and animals, which is at the heart of Hindu beliefs in non-violence, respect for all living beings, and ecological balance.


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