Govatsa Dwadashi 2024: Meaning, Significance and Facts

We have all worshipped cows since ancient times. Govatsa Dwadasi is an auspicious festival in which we value the bonds between humans and cows. We will celebrate Govatsa Dwadashi on October 28th, 2024. Do you want to know more about the festival’s meaning, importance, and other aspects? Let’s explore in depth!

Govatsa Dwadashi 2024 Date and Time

Govatsa Dwadashi Date- 28th October 2024
Tithi Begins- 7:50 a.m. on 28th October
Tithi Ends- 10:31 a.m. on 29th October
Pradosh Kal Govatsa Dwadashi Muhurat- 06:01 p.m. to 8:27 p.m.
Duration- 2 hours 26 mins

What is Govatsa Dwadashi?

We dedicate this auspicious festival, Govatsa Dwadashi, to the worship of the divine cow, Nandini. We observe it on the 12th day of krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwin. In 2024, Govatsa Dwadashi will take place on 28th October. The other names of Govatsa Dwadashi are Vagh Varas, Vasubaras, Nandini Vrat etc.

On this day, we offer love and gratitude to the cows. You can adorn the images and idols of cows with turmeric and kumkum. People do not drink cow’s milk or other products made from milk. The North Indian people celebrate it as Vagh Baras.

Women keep Nandini vrat on this day to honour cows, representing prosperity and fertility. They clear their account books and do not allow new transactions on this day. The Maharastrians celebrate it as Vasu Baras. This festival marks the beginning of the Diwali festival.

Also Read: Rama Ekadashi 2024: Rituals, Significance And Puja Muhurat

Story of the Govastsa Dwadashi Festival

Once, Lord Krishna told the people of Vrindavan to worship cows in the Govatsa Dwadashi. He told his people that they could get rid of their sins and get blessings for their cattle. Since then, we have celebrated this sacred festival.

The other story is about Sita and Geeta. The two queens, Sita and Geeta, were the wives of the monarch Devdani. They had one buffalo, a cow, and a calf. Sita adored the buffalo, and Geeta loved the cow and calf. One day, the buffalo told Sita that Geeta did not love him. This angered Sita, and she killed the calf and buried it in the wheat sack. The king noticed blood marks on the food served on his plate.

This horrified him, and he heard a voice saying that Queen Sita had killed the calf. The voice told the monarch he must do a few things if he wants the calf to return to life. The voice told the monarch to slaughter a buffalo on Govatsa Dwadashi. It told him not to consume milk and eat chopped fruits. The king did the same and got the cattle’s life back. This is a reason why women observe fasts on this day. In 2024, Govatsa Dwadashi will be celebrated by us observing a fast.

Why Do We Fast on this Day?

Women fast on this day for their family’s good health. This helps to calm the body and the mind. If people keep fast on this day, they can focus on their goals. A childless woman can be blessed with a baby if she fasts on this day.

The Connection of Govatsa Dwadashi and Diwali

The Govatsa Dwadashi marks the beginning of the Diwali festival. We associate Diwali with the Goddess of happiness and prosperity, Maa Lakshmi. She blesses the people who worship with true devotion. If we worship the cows on the Govatsa Dwadashi, she blesses us with happiness and prosperity.

Importance of Govatsa Dwadashi

We will celebrate Govatsa Dwadashi in 2024, like every year, but are we aware of its importance in our culture? This festival is in the Bhavisya Purana, the Hindu scripture. On this day, we worship the Nandini cow. She is the mother of all cows that provide us with nourishment. Mothers fast for their children’s long lifespans.

If a childless woman fasts on this day, she’ll soon be blessed with a child. On this day, we worship Lord Dattatreya, Lord Vishnu’s incarnation. This worship helps us preserve cows. Women make small idols of different animals, such as tigers, tigresses, cows, and calves, and worship them.

Also Read: Karwa Chauth 2024 Special

Role of Kamadhenu in the Festival

The Kamadhenu or Nandini cow is the divine cow worshipped in the Govatsa Dwadashi. The cow came out of the Kshira Sagar. If we worship the cow, we worship 33 crore Gods. The festival tells us that cows are not only physical beings. They represent happiness, prosperity, and fertility.

Essential Rituals of Govatsa Dwadashi

Some essential rituals of Govatsa Dwadashi are:

Cows are washed on the day of the festival. We apply vermillion on their foreheads. The cows and calves are dressed and given to ear a garland of flowers.
If we cannot find a cow on the day of the Govatsa Dwadashi, we can build mud cows and calves to worship.
We apply turmeric and kumkum to the mud idols. In the evening, an aarti is performed.
You can give the cows moong and gram to eat. We decorate the Gaushalas with flowers and lamps.
People decorate their houses with rangoli.
We pray to Lord Vishnu on this day. We associate the deity with the cows.
Women fast and keep a vrat on this day for the excellent health of their children. They will again observe fast on Govatsa Dwadashi 2024.
If you keep a vrat on this day, you should refrain from physical exercise or activity at night.
You should sleep on the floor at night if you have kept a vrat.
It would help to refrain from consuming milk and its products on this auspicious day. We visit the temples of Lord Vishnu in Govatsa Dwadashi.
The Panchagavya—cow urine, jaggery, cow dung, coconut, and water are spread by us all over the house for purification.

Some Important Facts

We will celebrate Govatsa Dwadshi in 2024. Let’s know some crucial facts about Govatsa Dwadashi:

We celebrate this auspicious festival to express gratitude for the milk.
We celebrate the festival by introducing them to the farming community. Cow dung can be used as a source of organic fertiliser.
The festival represents our love for animals and the environment.
We keep fast on this day, Nandini Vrat. Nandini and the Nandi cow hold special importance to the Shaivite devotees.
On this day, people offer prayers to Lord Vishnu. You can feed the calves and cows jaggery, which brings happiness and prosperity to your house.