GORVAM PADVO: WHEN OUR COWS WERE FAMILY AND GOVARDHAN POOJA WAS A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

 GORVAM PADVO: WHEN OUR COWS WERE FAMILY AND GOVARDHAN POOJA WAS A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

By John Aguiar

Some memories never fade. They remain deeply embedded in our hearts, bringing back the fragrance of our childhood, the warmth of family and the simplicity of a life that we may never experience again. For me, Gorvam Padvo, or Govardhan Pooja, is one such beautiful memory of my childhood days at Dhavli.

In those days, our household was not just made up of human beings. We had our own little animal family too. We had three female cows and one male cow. Their names were Mangal, Vijay, Shanul and Busha. They were not merely cattle kept for milk or agricultural purposes; they were members of our family.

Adjacent to our mud house was a cowshed, which we called Gotto. Next to it was a separate shelter for our goats, known as Ghudd. These were an integral part of our everyday life.

My mother would milk the cows, and whenever a new calf was born, it was nothing short of a celebration in our home. The arrival of a calf brought immense happiness. One of the special treats we looked forward to was Kharvas, prepared from the first milk after the birth of a calf. That traditional delicacy had a taste and sweetness that no modern-day dessert can ever replace.

A special day for our animal family

Gorvam Padvo, celebrated as Govardhan Pooja, was a major occasion in our household. It was a day when our gratitude towards the cows and the entire animal family found expression through rituals and affection.

We would wake up early in the morning. The first task was to clean the Gotti. After that, we would take our bath and get ready for the pooja.

Our cows were lovingly cleaned and bathed. Their feet were washed, tilak was applied on their foreheads, and beautiful garlands made of marigold flowers, locally known as zendu, were placed around their necks.

We would then offer them polle, a traditional preparation, with devotion and affection.

It was a beautiful sight to see our cows standing adorned with flowers, looking almost like honoured guests in our household. There was no feeling that we were worshipping an animal merely as part of a ritual. It was an expression of gratitude towards creatures that contributed so much to our lives.

When the boys arrived with Dhendlo

The celebrations did not end with our household pooja. Local boys would come to our house carrying Dhendlo, with an image of Lord Krishna. Their arrival added another dimension to the festivities.

The sight of the boys, the image of Lord Krishna, the decorated cows and the festive atmosphere around our house made Gorvam Padvo a truly memorable occasion.

These traditions were not merely religious observances. They brought the neighbourhood together and strengthened the bond between people, animals and nature.

My mother's love for the cows and goats

My mother had a special affection for our cows and the herd of goats. She would take them towards the nearby hillside so that they could graze safely on the grass.

I often think about those days and the extraordinary bond she shared with these animals. She knew them individually, cared for them and treated them with tenderness. I too developed a deep affection for them.

Perhaps it was from her that I learnt to respect animals and appreciate the natural world.

Our family was small — just three of us: my Pappa, my mother and me. We lived happily in our modest mud house at Dhavli. We did not have the comforts that today's generation takes for granted, but we had something equally precious: togetherness, contentment and a close relationship with nature.

Life without electricity, but full of light

Those were the days when electricity had not yet reached the comforts of our everyday existence. We depended on petrol diyas for lighting. A battery-operated radio was our window to the outside world.

Our angan, the courtyard outside the house, was regularly smeared with cow dung, following the traditional practice of keeping it clean. The surroundings were close to nature, and snakes were not an uncommon sight.

Life was different, certainly not easy by today's standards, but it had its own charm. We learnt to live with nature rather than distance ourselves from it.

There were no television screens, mobile phones or the distractions of modern technology. Yet there was so much to observe, experience and cherish. The cows, goats, hillside, courtyard, the sounds of the radio and the simple routines of village life created a world of their own.

A childhood that remains alive in my heart

Today, when Gorvam Padvo or Govardhan Pooja comes around, my thoughts travel back to Dhavli. I remember Mangal, Vijay, Shanul and Busha. I remember the Gotto and Ghudd, my mother's hands lovingly milking the cows, the arrival of a newborn calf, the taste of freshly prepared Kharvas, and the beautiful sight of our cows decorated with zendu garlands.

I also remember my mother walking towards the hillside with the cows and goats, ensuring that they grazed safely.

Those days may have disappeared, but the emotions remain.

Festivals are not only about rituals, celebrations or religious beliefs. They are also about memories, relationships, gratitude and the values passed on from one generation to another.

For me, Gorvam Padvo is not just a festival dedicated to cattle or a day of Govardhan Pooja. It is a reminder of my mother, my childhood, our humble mud house at Dhavli and the beautiful animal family that was once an inseparable part of our lives.

We may have had very little in terms of material possessions, but we were rich in love, affection and contentment.

Those were simple days, lived in a simple home, surrounded by nature. And perhaps, those were some of the richest days of my life.