Gai Puja (cow worship), Goru Puja (ox worship), and Govardhan Puja are being celebrated across the country on Saturday, marking the fourth day of the five-day Tihar festival.

On this day, rituals for Gai Puja and Govardhan Puja involve creating replicas of the cow and Govardhan Mountain using cow dung. Devotees prepare a mixture of cow dung and ochre, forming a paste to apply on their courtyards and floors.

Hindus revere the cow as mother, considering it sacred. Modern science supports the belief that indigenous breeds of cows absorb energy from the sun and moon through their humps, which is then transmitted through milk to humans.

As part of Gai Puja rituals, cows are fed sweets and delicacies. It is customary to tie the sacred thread, worn on Janai Purnima, around the cow’s tail during the ceremony.

This act is believed to assist the soul in crossing the mythical Baitarani River to reach heaven after death.

The rituals are associated with the Hindu deity Sri Krishna, who, according to legend, lifted Govardhan Mountain to protect the residents of Gokul from torrential rains unleashed by Indra, the rain god, whose anger caused the heavy downpour.

Additionally, oxen are worshipped today, recognising their vital role in agricultural practices in Nepal, a predominantly agricultural nation.