Govatsa Dwadashi fast is observed on the dwadashi krishna paksha of Kartik month. In the year 2024, this festival will be celebrated on 28 October. Cows and calves are worshiped on this day. This fast is observed on the pradosh vyapini tithi. Incase someone does not find any cow or calf around the house, then the worshipping in done by making an idol of cow with mud. The observer have to intake only milk products on this day.
Lord Krishna was fond of cows. It is believed that all the gods and goddesses reside a cow. The items/products made of milk such as cottage cheese, kheer, curd etc are used in havana and puja. A mixture of five milk products is used for purification before the puja. The person observing Govatsa Dwadashi fast should adopt Brahmachari and sleep on the floor. The devotee should worship Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva with a pure heart. The observer is blessed with all kind of worldly pleasures in life.
Rituals To Perform Govatsa Dwadashi
The person observing the fast should wake up early in the morning and take bath in a river or lake. Wear clean clothes after bath and take the resolution for fast. The food is only eaten only once in the day time. The cow is given bath along with its calf and adorned with flowers and dupattas. Apply sandlawood on the forehead. Worship the cow with incences, flowers, water, rice, copper while chanting the below given chant.
Kakshiroarnasambhute Surasuranskriteya|
Sarvdemaya Matarghanadharya Namo Namah||
After performing this ritual, the observer should feed food items made with urad dal to the cow. Chant the following mantra while doing this ritual.
Surabhi Twam Jagnmartdevi Vishnupade Sthita |
Sarvamaya Grasam Maya Datmiman Gras ||
Tat Sarmeya Devi Sarverladkrite |
Martarmabhilashit Safalam Kuru Nandini ||
Now, listen to Govatsa story and fast for the whole day. Remembe the god you believe in and peform aarti in the evenming before eating the food.
Significance of Govatsa Dwadashi
There are many legenda for Govatsa Dwadashi mentioned in ancient scriotures. according to these scriptures, a king named Utanpad was the one who started this fast on earth. His wife observed this fast and was as a consequence was blessed with a son. Thus, the childless couples should definitelky observe this fast to obstain the pleasure of a child. People should worship the goddess Cow with puire heart and faith to get fruitful results.