Maria de Lourdes Bravo da Costa Rodrigues
November 12 is Gorvacho Padva, and on this day Hindus worship the cow. Usually the day is celebrated a day after Diwali unless Lakshmi Puja falls on the day after Diwali. In that case the Padva is celebrated the day after Lakshmi Puja.
Why is the cow venerated on this day?
India is an agricultural nation and hence dependent on the cow, which is used to till the fields. So, to thank the cow for the work it did in the fields, which brought fortune to him in the form of agricultural products, the farmer would organise this thanksgiving festival.
This festival is mainly observed by villagers, farmers and tribals. Guna Naik from Britona narrates the rituals performed in her village. On the morning of padva the cowshed is cleaned and decorated with garlands of marigold. Oil is applied to the cow after which it is bathed. This is followed by puja and arti. Kumkum (vermillion) is applied on its forehead and garlands of marigold flowers placed around its neck. On its back, colourful designs are made. The cow is then covered with a beautiful cloth. Half a coconut or a thick poie made of boiled rice flour and urid dal is hung around its neck. This is later eaten by family members and others. The animal is offered delicious food and it is allowed to rest on this day.
Ponda taluka observes most festivals in the traditional manner. Suvarna Bhagat of Marcel, Ponda describes how the padva is followed in her village.
People make in the courtyard or near the tulsi vrindavan a miniature gotho, that is, a cowshed or gokul. This is made of cowdung. The gotto is like a toy house and is decorated with various compartments including a hall, dining room, bedroom and cowshed. There is also a gairi, which is used by the farmer to collect ashes and dung. Both are used as manure. Karit and other wild fruit are used to fashion tiny replicas of cows and household utensils. And finally a doll is placed in the gotto, which is symbolical of the farmer.
In Marcel at Deul waddo there is a temple dedicated to Shri Devki Krishna, in honour of Krishna and his mother Devki. From this temple a lalki, a round palki, of Krishna is taken around the village in full ceremony with people dancing to the beat of dhol and taasha. Atop this lalki, which is carried by eight people on their shoulders, is placed a paper-idol of Maruti and orange paper flags (guddi) with Jai Shri Ram written on them. On its way around the village the lalki stops at every house where arti is performed and a garland of flowers and pedas are offered to Krishna. People from other villages, who have vowed to make this offering also visit. In addition, groceries, vegetables and coconut needed to prepare the delicious khatkhatem are offered to the Lord.
After visiting all the houses the lalki is taken to the Shri Devki Krishna temple courtyard where the youngsters of the village dance around with the lalki for about two hours. Then the lalki is taken around the temple and placed in front of the main entrance. The guddis on the laiki are taken by the people to place in their devaros (oratory) at home.
At around eight in the evening, an auction (paavni) of the pedda garlands is held and money collected goes to the temple treasury. On the following evening, auction of the offerings for making katkatem is held. Gopalkalo is held during which youngsters play the games that Krishna played with his cowherds (gavli). Laddus of fov and curds are made by the temple priest. These are then distributed. To keep up with legend that Krishna would refuse to eat if given food on a plate the laddus are tossed by the bhat and devotees have to pick the same and eat.
Vassanti Naik of Mardol adds that the tribal community of the village celebrate Dhenlo on this day. Dhenlo personifies Shri Krishna, who is associated with pastoral life and was companion of the gavlis – the cowherds. They carry around the village an idol of Krishna in a dhendlo, a square-shaped box like a devaro, which is carried by a man on his head. He is accompanied by other villagers as they move around singing to the rhythms of dhol and taasha:
Den Den Dhendlo
Den den dhendlo
Rama paus shendlo,
Dhendeachi matari,
Sheia anna catali
Den den dhendlo
When the person carrying the dhendlo visits a house, first his feet are washed by the housewife. Then, kumkum and flowers are offered to Lord Krishna. Arti is performed and payas made from rice and coconut is offered.
Vachan Kerkar from Keri, Satari adds that in his village too payas is offered as nevaidya and a garland of oddes made from wheat flour and jaggery is placed on the cow. A little payas is offered to the cow, as well.