Gaay Gauri: A bizarre ritual of trampling by cows
Imagine this. You visit a village in Gujarat and its streets are filled with bejewelled and hand-painted cows and bulls running frantically as hundreds of men are lying down on the ground. First thing, you will scream for help for the men as well as for yourself. But don’t worry, this is the annual Gaay Gauri ritual, that the village is celebrating. Let us tell you more about it in detail.
The holy cow
Cows have been considered sacred in the Hindu religion and the tradition is many several centuries old. In fact, a cow has often been accorded the status of a mother in our Shastras. You must have offered milk to the idol of Nandi, the sacred bull of the Hindu god Shiva in temples. Many people worship Kamadhenu, the divine bovine goddess described in Hindu scriptures as the mother of all cows because of the belief that she can fulfil all their wishes.
Gaay Gauri at a glance
Based on these beliefs, this bizarre ritual called ‘Gaay Gauri’ is celebrated in some villages in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and some other parts of the country. In this centuries-old annual ritual, Hindu men lie down on the ground and allow their decorated cows to walk on them. But when is this ritual held? A day after Diwali.
After offering prayers to the cattle, the animals are decorated in vibrant colours—yellow, green, purple, pink—and embellished with peacock feathers while fancy bells are tied to their legs. The men lie face down on the ground, holding their arms tightly against their bodies, and let hundreds of cows run over them as others watch. The villagers also dance to drum beats and other musical instruments for the event. In some places, a Gowardhan statue made of cow dung is prepared and the rituals are considered incomplete unless the cows step on this statue.
Cows bring good luck
This villagers believe that when the cow's feet touch a person, his problems are reduced. The tradition also exhibits the special bond that the herdsmen have with the cows since they raise and feed the cattle the whole year and then seek their blessings and forgiveness on this special day.
Not just that, the bruises which the people get after they are done with the ritual are treated with cow urine and dung, which according to the villagers have medicinal properties to heal these injuries.
A unique way to forecast weather
In some places such as the Bhil tribe in Gujarat, cows of various colours are also made to race towards the village temple to explore dates for farming and favourable weather. Yes, you read that right. The weird belief is that if a white-coloured cow reaches the temple door first, the monsoon will be better next year. If a brown cow reaches first, there will be average rainfall while if a black cow reaches the temple before others, there will be drought.