Gai Puja today

Kathmandu: Gai Puja or cow worship is being observed throughout the country today.

The Gai Puja rituals are observed today with replicas of the Gai. The cow is revered as mata or mother by Hindus and is sacred to them.

Modern science has also proved that indigenous breeds of cows absorb the energy from the sun and the moon in their hump, which is transmitted through milk to humans.

The cows are fed with sweets and delicacies as part of the Gai Puja rituals. There is the tradition of tying the sacred thread that is tied around one’s wrist on the occasion of the Janai Poornima festival on the tail of the cow while performing Gai Puja.

It is believed that doing so, the cow would help the person’s soul cross the Baitarani River, a mythical river, to heaven, after the person’s death.

The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Sri Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan Mountain by his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by Indra, the God of rain.

It is believed that the rain God was angered and thereby caused the heavy downpour.