KATHMANDU: Gai Puja, the traditional worship of cows, is being observed across the country today on the third day of the five-day Tihar festival, one of Nepal’s major Hindu celebrations.
On the occasion, devotees worship cows by offering them flower garlands, tika and special food, including sweets and other delicacies, expressing reverence for the animal, which holds religious and cultural significance in Hindu tradition.
According to a long-standing custom, the sacred thread tied around the wrist during Janai Purnima is fastened to a cow’s tail while performing Gai Puja.
Religious belief holds that the ritual helps the soul of a deceased person cross the mythical Baitarani River and reach heaven. The cow is traditionally regarded as a guide that helps the departed soul make the journey across the river.
Another customary practice involves preparing a paste from cow dung and ochre, which is applied to the courtyards and floors of homes as part of the day’s religious observances.
Gai Puja is among the important rituals of Tihar, a festival that celebrates the close relationship between humans, animals and nature. Cows are particularly revered in Hinduism as sacred animals and are associated with prosperity, nourishment and motherhood.
The observance reflects Nepal’s longstanding religious traditions and the cultural importance attached to animals in everyday spiritual life.
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