Gai Puja Tihar Cows Are Worshipped
22nd October 2025, Kathmandu
Gai Puja, the worship of the cow, is a central and deeply sacred tradition during the five-day Tihar Festival in Nepal (also known as Yamapanchak).
Gai Puja Tihar Cows Worshipped
Falling on Kartik Shukla Pratipada (the fifth day of Tihar), this day is dedicated entirely to recognizing the profound role of the cow, revered in Hinduism as the embodiment of prosperity and purity.
This ritual, rooted in the ancient Vedic tradition, is more than just an annual formality; it is an expression of gratitude to the animal considered Gau Mata (Cow Mother).
Why the Cow is Revered as ‘Gau Mata’
In Sanatan Dharma, the cow is considered one of the seven mothers, and its significance is tied to its life-sustaining contributions:
Nourishment: The cow’s milk is considered highly nutritious, often likened to a mother’s own milk, justifying the honorific title Gau Mata.
Purity: Cow dung (Gobar) and urine (Gaut) are used for purification rituals and in the consecration of spaces, symbolizing cleanliness and sanctity.
Spiritual Symbolism: The cow is intrinsically linked with Goddess Laxmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. It is believed that by performing Nepali cow worship (Gai Puja) and offering palatable food, devotees secure purity and unending prosperity.
The Sacred Rituals of Gai Puja
Gai Puja rituals are performed with great devotion, involving the purification, adornment, and offering of food to the cow.
- Adornment: Cows are lovingly bathed, decorated with a red tika on their forehead, and adorned with beautiful garlands.
- Offerings: The animals are fed a special feast of delicious food items and seasonal delicacies as a token of thanks for their service to mankind and agriculture.
- The Raksha Bandhan Ceremony: A key ritual on this day involves the sacred protection thread (Rakshabandhan or Janai) that was originally tied to a person’s wrist during the Saun Shukla Purnima (Janai Purnima). This thread is ceremonially untied and tied to the cow’s tail.
Religious Belief: Crossing the Vaitarani River
The ritual of attaching the sacred thread to the cow’s tail holds a powerful belief concerning the afterlife:
It is widely held that upon death, the soul must cross the Vaitarani River, a formidable river of the underworld.
By performing this act of devotion on Gai Puja Tihar, it is believed the cow will guide the devotee’s soul across the treacherous river, ensuring a safe passage to heaven (Swarga).
Conclusion: The Cow as a National Symbol
The immense spiritual and cultural respect for the cow is formally recognized in Nepal, where it is designated as the National Animal.
Gai Puja not only celebrates the cow’s economic contribution to agrarian life but also reinforces a deeper commitment within the Hindu community to reverence for nature, gratitude for nourishment, and the belief in the cow’s unique role as a sacred guide in both this life and the next.
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