A group of villagers who work as herdsmen lie face-first on the ground, waiting for a herd of cows to trample over them. The cows charge at full speed, run over the villagers, tear up their clothes, and possibly injure them.
The statue of a deity named Gowardhan is made, and the cows are allowed to run until they trample on the statue. If anyone is injured, cow urine and cow dung are applied to the wound.
This ritual is part of the Govardhan Puja, a ‘festival’ celebrated in Ujjain and other parts of Madhya Pradesh. The locals claim that they have been celebrating the festival since the time of the royals and that the cows do not hurt the people; all they do is bring good luck and prosperity among the herdsmen. It is one way of celebrating.
Govardhan Puja falls a day after Diwali. The name comes from Govardhan Pahar, a small hillock about twenty kilometres from Mathura.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna persuaded his followers in Braj to stop worshipping Indra, the sun god. Krishna did not want his people to worship a ‘demi-god’ who could only bring temporary relief, that too after they asked permission from the Supreme Godhead Personality.
Indra took offence and brought a flood to torment the people of Braj. Krishna took the people to Govardhan Pahar and lifted the small hill with one finger. The people went under the hill and stood there until Indra’s wrath subsided. The day this event ostensibly occurred is celebrated as the Govardhan Puja festival.
Another story says that Govardhan is the name of the statue made using cow dung by Rajasthani villagers. Cows are fed and decorated annually on the day of Govardhan Puja, regardless of the reason. It is celebrated differently in different places, but one thing is common—the cow dung statue.
In a Vrindavan temple where the festival is celebrated, a statue made of cow dung is believed to represent Krishna. It is believed that no human can destroy; only a cow can. Other people who celebrate Govardhan Puja hold similar beliefs. The villagers of Madhya Pradesh, however, are unique in their celebration.
Originally, only the statue was to be trampled, not the people. The Madhya Pradesh villagers say that once, a father prayed for his son’s well-being, and his wish was granted. Since then, they have been celebrating the festival by lying on the ground and waiting for the cows to trample them. It could be assumed that the man who started it all laid himself face down, and his wish was granted. Since it worked for him, it must work for everybody.
In the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, the herders are facilitated after being trampled by cows. It is to showcase their unique bond with the holy animal.
A villager who spoke to the Daily Mail said: “We all have problems, whether at home or at work. But we believe if we allow ourselves to be crushed by cows, the almighty will appreciate our sacrifice and pain, solve all our issues, and bless us with happiness.”
The process is meant to be painful, but if blessings follow, it can be endured.
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