The holy festival of Bachh Baras is being celebrated today, September 7, 2026. On this day, women observe a fast for the well-being of their children and worship Lord Krishna with rituals. On this auspicious occasion, tableaux depicting the Lord’s pastimes of cowherding are presented in Lord Krishna temples. Worshiping cows and calves is also considered to be of special significance on this festival. Govatsa Dwadashi is worshipped during the twilight hours, and this year, the auspicious time for this puja will be from 6:36 pm to 8:53 pm. Here, you will learn the story of the fast of Bachh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi).
Story of the fast of Bach Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi)
According to the story of Bachh Baras, there lived a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. One day, the mother-in-law had to go to the forest to graze the cows, and that day was Bachh Baras of the month of Bhadrapada. While leaving, the mother-in-law said to her daughter-in-law, “I am going to the forest to graze the cows. You boil Gehunle and Jaule (wheat and barley).” Actually, ‘Gehunle’ and ‘Jaule’ were also the names of her cow’s calves. The daughter-in-law was worried as to why her mother-in-law had asked her to boil the calf. But the mother-in-law had asked her to boil wheat and barley, but the daughter-in-law could not understand this and, obeying her mother-in-law’s orders, boiled the calf instead of the wheat and barley.
When the mother-in-law returned home after grazing the cows, she said to her daughter-in-law, “Daughter-in-law! Today is Bach Baras, so forget about the wheat and barley, let’s first worship the cow and calf.” Hearing this, the daughter-in-law began to tremble with fear and began to pray to God in her heart, “Oh Bach Baras Mata! Save my honor.”
Hearing her earnest request, Bachh Baras Mata was pleased and the cow’s calves broke the pot and came out alive. A piece of the pot was hanging around the calves’ necks, seeing which the mother-in-law said, “Daughter-in-law! What is this?” Then the daughter-in-law, crying, told her the whole story and said, “Mother-in-law! Bachh Baras Mata saved my honor. God saved my life and gave life to the calves.”
It is said that this is why wheat, cow’s milk, and cow’s milk products are not consumed on Bachh Baras. Furthermore, eating fruits and vegetables cut with a knife or any sharp object is also prohibited on this day.
O Mother Bachh Baras, just as you protected the honour of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, please shower your blessings on everyone.
Say, hail Mother Cow!
