Bach Baras is a prominent festival celebrated in North India for the well being of children by Hindu married women.
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Introduction
Today I am talking about a much celebrated festival dedicated to Gau Mata. Popularly known as Govatsa Dwadashi aka Bach Baras. As you all know our rich Hindu culture has imbibed us with values of Vasudeva Kutumbhkam. Where, all the living beings are beautifully and wonderfully anticipated in our lives. I have mentioned the relevance and worshipping value of Cow in Hinduism.
Importance of Bach Baras
Cows are considered guardian angels in Hindu culture. From Dwapar yug to Tretayug and to Kalyug, no one can deny the existence and importance of this innocent being in our lives. Lord Krishna has his childhood all around this innocent creature of God.
Moreover, Hindu gods have been linked and talked about Cow in ancient text. Bach Baras as name suggest is a day to celebrate the Bachda (calf) and cow in Hindu culture. This festival holds greater value for married Hindu women as they keep this fast for the well being of their children.
Thus, Bach Baras is a festival of worshipping cow and her calf. This is celebrated mostly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. It is also called Okdwasi.
Date of Bach Baras 2024
Further, Bach Baras will be celebrated on 30 August 2024. The tithi will start from 01:37 AM on August 30, 2024 and will end at 02:25 AM on August 3, 2024.
Every year it falls on the Dwashi titthi of Bhadrpada month of Hindu panchang. As per gregorian calender in falls in month of September-October every year.
Dos and Don’ts
a) Firstly, Bach Baras is celebrated at a wider scale in households. Married women make a cow and a calf out of mud and clay. They worship them in morning after having bath.
b) Secondly, women do soak moth, Moong and millets one night before the day of Bach Baras.
c) Thirdly, it is prohibited to eat Wheat, Rice and milk products on this day.
d) Fourthly, married women do worship cow and her calf on this day.
e) Many places, women who have cow at home, do bathing rituals of cow and her calf. After that they offer cloth, haldi, kumkum, chandan and flowers garland to the cow and her calf. If someone does not have cow at home, she can make a small momentous of cow and calf out of clay and mud.
f) Lastly, aarti of gaumata and bachda is performed.
g) Non-veg, alcohol and other tamsik eateries are not allowed
Story (katha) of Bach Baras
According to the legend, a long time ago there lived a money lender. A moneylender lived in a village with his seven sons and grandsons. That moneylender had built a pond in the village but it was not filled for many years. He called the Pandit to ask the reason for not filling the pond.The Pandit said that it will be filled with water only if you sacrifice either your elder son or your elder grandson. Then the moneylender sent his elder daughter-in-law to mayeka and later sacrificed his elder grandson. Meanwhile, thundering clouds came and the pond was completely filled. After this, Bach Baras came and everyone said that our pond is completely filled, let us worship it. The moneylender went with his family to worship the pond. He had asked the maid to cook the wheat flour.
According to the moneylender, Gehunla meant wheat paddy. The maid could not understand. Actually Gehunla was also the name of a cow’s calf. He cooked only the wheat. The elder son’s wife had also come from mayeka to worship the pond. After worshiping the pond, she started loving her children and then she asked about her elder son. Then her elder son, covered in mud, came out of the pond and said, Mother, love me too. Then mother-in-law and daughter-in-law started looking at each other. However, mother-in-law told the daughter-in-law everything about the sacrifice. Then the mother-in-law said, Mother saved our honor and gave back our child.
When she returned home after worshiping the pond, she saw that the calf was not there. The moneylender asked the maid, where is the calf? So the maid said that it was you who asked her to cook. The moneylender said, one sin has just been committed, you have committed another sin. The moneylender buried the cooked calf in the soil. When the cow returned in the evening, she started searching for her calf and then started digging the soil. Just then the calf came out of the mud. When the moneylender came to know, he also went to see the calf.
Also, he saw that the calf was busy drinking cow’s milk. Then the moneylender spread the word throughout the village that the mother of every son should observe a fast for twelve years.
O Mother Bach Baras, give to us the same as you gave to the moneylender’s daughter-in-law. Fulfilling everyone’s wishes as soon as the story is told or heard.
Conclusion
Thus, we know the relevance of Bach Baras puja in Hindu culture. Have a happy day ahead.
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