Govatsa Dwadashi 2025: Date, Rituals & How to Celebrate

99Pandit Ji

Last Updated:October 16, 2025

Govatsa Dwadashi 2025, or Vasu Baras (बछ बारस), is a very auspicious and sacred occasion, celebrated the day before Diwali.

This day is devoted to worshipping the cow and its calf because the cow is referred to as “Mother” in our religion.

The belief is that if one serves the cow with a full heart, happiness, peace, and prosperity will come into one’s life.

On this day, women fast and give flowers, turmeric, rice, and grass to the cow and calf. They put the tilak on the cow and calf and gave the offerings (flowers, turmeric, rice, grass) to the cow and calf.

The observance is extremely loving and sincere in the entirety of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and in the North of India.

Govatsa Dwadashi 2025 is not simply worship, but it teaches us a deeper sense of friendship with nature and the animals.

This day is the first festival for Diwali and is a message to be kind, grateful, and to serve. Today, we exchange our greetings and welcome a new, positive energy into our home.

Govatsa Dwadashi 2025 Date and Time

The festival of Govatsa Dwadashi is celebrated every year on the Dwadashi Tithi of the Krishna Paksha of the month of Kartik. This day falls exactly one day before Diwali.

The Govatsa Dwadashi 2025 fast will be observed on Friday, October 17, 2025

• Govata Dwadashi: Friday, 17 October 2025
• Pradoshkala Govatasa Dwadashi Muhurat: 5:10 PM – 7:39 PM
• Dwadashi Tithi Begins: 11:12 AM, 17 October 2025
• Dwadashi Tithi Ends:  12:18 PM, 18 October 2025

On this day, women worship the cow and her calf early in the morning. The auspicious time for worship is considered to be from morning till noon.

Those observing the fast on this day feed fodder to the cow and eat sattvik food throughout the day.

Significance of Govatsa Dwadashi 2025

Govatsa Dwadashi has deep religious and emotional significance. On this day, the cow and its calf are worshipped because the cow is considered the “Mother of the Earth” in our culture.

It is believed that all gods and goddesses reside in a cow. When we serve and worship the cow, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi are pleased.

• The Govatsa Dwadashi festival reminds us to love and value our lives and others’ lives also.
• On this day, we receive a cow, which is more than an animal; it is the giver of our lives.
• It provides us with milk that keeps our bodies healthy.
• To spend the day in fasting and worship brings peace, prosperity into their homes, and a sense of happiness.
• On this day, women observe a fast in order to pray for the health and long life of their family.
• Govatsa Dwadashi identifies the mother and child relationship.
• With the relationship of the cow, they put a tilak (mark) on the cow’s forehead as a sign of honour. They feed the cow fresh grass and jaggery, and they light a diya (lamp) in front of the cow as a sign of worship.
• On this day, people also go to cow havens in order to serve cows.

Rituals of Govatsa Dwadashi 2025

Govatsa Dwadashi begins early in the morning of the year 2025. Following tradition, everybody wakes up early in the morning during the time of day when one does morning bathing and cleans the surroundings.

Later, people will purify their selected space of worship with cow dung and ochre. Next, a photo or idol of a cow and her calf is placed.

Along with their puja plate, all the ladies wear a saree and prepare with the puja plate of flowers, turmeric, rice, jaggery, and water.

It is said that the morning of Govatsa Dwadashi is the best time, as the energy is calm and positive.

As a family, each family member each with respect, will gather together and chant the name of God. Before participating in the puja, they will make everyone take a vow to fast.

Cow Decoration and Worship

On this day, it is considered very auspicious to decorate the cow herself. The cow is adorned with flower garlands, and a tilak is put on her forehead.

Many people worship clay idols of a cow and calf as well. A cow is offered jaggery, grass, bread, and water.

In the meantime, the mantras “Gau Mata ki Jai” and “Govind Gopal ki Jai” are said out loud.

Afterwards, some women will light some diya and begin doing aarti for the cow and seek the blessings of their families.

It is said that this puja will bring Lakshmi into the home and bring happiness and peace into their life.

Offering Prasad and Performing Aarti

Once the puja is finished, milk, jaggery, rice, and water are offered to Mother Cow as Prasad, which is specifically called an infinite Prasad.

Then the Diyas are lit, and the Aarti is performed by ringing the bell as the family joins in to sing “Gau Mata Ki Aarti.”

Finally, after Aarti, relatives and family members share the Prasad and greet each other with love, such as Dada, Dadi, etc.

In addition to this, some will feed, give, and/or donate to the needy during the holiday too.

The belief is that every small auspicious deed done on Govatsa Dwadashi 2025 has many-fold rewards.

How to Celebrate Govatsa Dwadashi 2025

• Women fast on Govatsa Dwadashi Festival.
• They eat fruit, milk, or light food during the fasting day.
• On this day, meat, onions, and garlic are strict “no’s.” During the fast,
• One should keep a calm mind and meditate on Lord Vishnu and Mother Cow.
• The fast is broken only after the evening when the puja is completed.
• After the puja, jaggery, milk, and fruits are consumed as prasad.
• This fast is considered very beneficial for the family’s happiness, peace, and health.

Including Children and Family

• It is considered very good to include children in the puja on this day.
• Tell them the story of Mother Cow and explain the importance of service.
• To the cowshed together and feed the cow.
• This brings a sense of kindness and caring in children.
• The real experience of Govatsa Dwadashi is when the family comes together in Dwadashi, worships, lights lamps, and chants the name of the Lord.
• Throughout the household, this day gives forth the message of love, peace, and positivity.

Govatsa Dwadashi Vrat Katha/Story

Once upon a time, in a town where a cow named Nandini lived. She was very nice and helped everyone.

People of the town used her milk to make yogurt, butter, and ghee, and worshipped God. A poor Brahmin woman prayed to Nandini by saying, “O Mother Cow, there is so much poverty in my home. Please give me your milk.”

The cow lovingly said, “Daughter, today my milk has been given to others, but tomorrow I will give it to you first.”

The woman observed a fast that day and worshipped the cow the next morning. While she was praying, Nandini came to her house on her own and gave her milk.

The milk was very auspicious and sacred. When she presented it to Lord Vishnu, all her troubles were finished.

Ever since, it has been believed that anyone who worships the cow and its calf on the day of Govatsa Dwadashi will not have any shortages of food in their home and all of their wishes will be granted.

Lessons and Moral of the Katha

• The cow is like our mother; serving her brings virtue.
• Fasting and worship are not just rules, but symbols of faith and love.
• God always protects those who help others.

Conclusion

Govatsa Dwadashi 2025 festival teaches us that a cow is not just an animal, but a mother. Just as she nurtures her children, the cow provides us with milk, curd, ghee, and food.

Putting our love and our abilities of devotion into the cow and calf on this day brings happiness, peace, and prosperity to the home.

This day of fasting also reminds us of restraint, compassion, and service. Our service to the cow is not simply a religious duty; it is our duty to nature and other living beings.

The spirit of Govatsa Dwadashi is not limited to offering or fasting, but teaching us that God is in each living being and we should hold love and compassion for all.

Anyone who fasts on this day and truly worships the cow will be happy and free from pain.

For this reason, observe this fast this year, and devote yourself to worshipping the cow completely on Govatsa Dwadashi 2025 to be received by the cow’s blessings.

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