Govatsa Dwadashi is a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

cultural and religious festival which marks the beginning of

Diwali Diwali (), Dewali, Divali, or Deepavali ( IAST: ''dīpāvalī''), also known as the Festival of Lights, related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna, is a religious celebration in Indian religions. It is ...

celebrations in some parts of India, especially in the state of

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

, where it is known as ''Vasu Baras''. In

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

, it is celebrated as ''Vagh Baras'' and as ''Sripada Vallabha Aradhana Utsav'' of

Sripada Sri Vallabha Sripada Srivallabha (Telugu language, Telugu: శ్రీపాద శ్రీవల్లభ, Tamil language, Tamil: ஸ்ரீபாத ஸ்ரீவல்லபர், Hindi: श्रीपाद श्रीवल्लभ, Kannada: ...

, at

Pithapuram Pithapuram, historically known as Pittapore, is a town and a municipality in the Kakinada district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The town also forms a part of Godavari Urban Development Authority. The town is home to one of the eighteen ...

Datta Mahasamsthan in the state of

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

. In

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

, cows are considered very sacred, equivalent to human mothers for providing people with nourishing milk. In some

North India North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...

n states, Govatsa Dwadashi is referred to as ''Vagh'', which implies the repayment of one's financial debts. It is therefore a day when businessmen clear their accounting books and do not make further transactions in their new ledgers. Govatsa Dwadashi is also observed as ''Nandini Vrat'', as both

Nandini Nandini is a female given name. It is derived from the Sanskrit verbal root ''nand'', which means "to rejoice, delight". Literally, ''nandinī'' means a woman who brings joy. The name also specifically refers to a daughter, as a daughter brings ...

and

Nandi Nandi may refer to: People * Nandy (surname), Indian surname * Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe * Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi * Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...

are considered sacred in the

Shaivite Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangin ...

tradition. It is a thanksgiving festival to the cows for their help in sustaining human life, and thus both cows and calves are worshiped and fed with wheat products. The worshipers abstain from consuming any wheat and milk products on this day. It is believed that by these observances and worship, all wishes of the devotees will be fulfilled. The significance of Govatsa Dwadashi is stated in

Bhavishya Purana The 'Bhavishya Purana' (') is one of the eighteen major works in the Purana genre of Hinduism, written in Sanskrit. The title ''Bhavishya'' means "future" and implies it is a work that contains prophecies regarding the future. The ''Bhavishya ...

. It is said that Govatsa Dwadashi was first observed with fasting by King Uttānapāda (the son of

Svayambhuva Manu Swayambhuva Manu (Sanskrit: स्वयम्भुव मनु) is the first of the fourteen Manus.Dhruva Dhruva (Sanskrit: ध्रुव, , lit. "''unshakeable, immovable, or fixed"'') was an ascetic devotee of Vishnu mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. The Sanskrit term ''dhruva nakshatra'' (ध्रुव नक्ष� ...

Rituals

Cows and calves are bathed, draped in clothes and flower garlands, and vermilion/turmeric powder is applied on their foreheads. In some villages, people make cows and calves out of mud, dressing them and adorning them as such, symbolically.

Aarti ''Arti'' (Sanskrit: Ārātrika, Hindi: Ārtī) is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, often part of '' puja'', in which light (usually from a flame) is offered to one or more deities. ''Arti(s)'' also refers to the songs sung in praise of the d ...

s are performed. Wheat products, gram and

mung bean sprout Mung bean sprouts are a culinary vegetable grown by sprouting mung beans. They can be grown by placing and watering the sprouted beans in the shade until the hypocotyls grow long. Mung bean sprouts are extensively cultivated and consumed in East ...

s are then fed to the cows, symbolizing the sacred cow Nandini, who was the daughter of

Kamadhenu Kamadhenu ( sa, कामधेनु, , ), also known as Surabhi (, or , ), is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hinduism as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous cow of plenty who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often ...

on earth, and lived in Sage

Vasishtha Vasishtha ( sa, वसिष्ठ, IAST: ') is one of the oldest and most revered Vedic rishis or sages, and one of the Saptarishis (seven great Rishis). Vashistha is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the ''Rigveda''. Vashishtha an ...

's ashram. Devotees sing songs praising the love of Sri

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

for cows and being their benefactor. Women observe Nandini Vrat/fast for the wellbeing of their children and abstain from drinking and eating. As cows are symbolic to motherhood and chief source of livelihood in many villages in India, they are central to Diwali worship.Vasu Baras
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References

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External links

Govatsa_Dwadashi_(Bach_Baras)_YouTube
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Govatsa Dwadashi Festival in Hindi (Bach Baras)
Hindu festivals Hindu culture

Rituals

See also

References

External links