Govatsa Dwadashi

festivals

Also known as: Gau-Vatsal2, Vatsa Dvadashi

Select Calendar Year

2026 Festival Date & Muhurta

Govatsa Dwadashi

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Lunar Month: Kartika

Tithi / Muhurta Timings

Tithi Begins:10:36 AM, Nov 05

Tithi Ends:10:31 AM, Nov 06

About Govatsa Dwadashi

Govatsa Dwadashi, also called Vasu Baras, Nandini Vrata, or Bach Baras, is a festival that honours cows and calves as sacred embodiments of divine wealth. It falls on the Dwadashi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwin (amanta tradition) or Kartik (purnimanta tradition), just before the Diwali festivities.

Cows are revered as the earthly form of Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling celestial cow. Feeding and venerating cows on this day is believed to please Goddess Lakshmi, remove poverty, and ensure the health and happiness of children. The festival is therefore especially significant for mothers.

In many regions, Govatsa Dwadashi marks the first day of the five-day Diwali celebration. Families rise early, clean the cowshed, bathe the cattle, and prepare special wheat-based dishes to feed them. It is a day of gratitude toward the animals that sustain agriculture and human life.

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Govatsa Dwadashi is observed by worshipping cows, fasting until evening, and offering wheat-based foods to cattle.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Wake before sunrise, bathe, and clean the home and cowshed thoroughly.
Bathe cows and calves with clean water; apply a tilak of turmeric and sandalwood on their foreheads and decorate their horns with garlands.
Prepare wheat dishes such as chapatis, sweet porridge, or kheer and feed them to the cows first before the family eats.
Perform a simple go-puja with incense, a lamp, and prayers to Kamadhenu.
Observe a fast or eat only satvik food until the evening go-puja is complete.
Listen to the Govatsa Dwadashi Katha and donate grains, fodder, or blankets to goshalas and the needy.

Vrat Katha: The Vow of Nandini

A devoted queen longed for a child and performed many rituals without success. One day, a sage advised her to observe the Govatsa Dwadashi fast and worship a cow with the devotion due to mother Kamadhenu.

On the Dwadashi, the queen bathed the royal cows, offered them fresh wheat dishes, and prayed sincerely for a child. Pleased by her devotion, the celestial cow Nandini appeared in a dream and blessed her.

Soon the queen conceived and gave birth to a healthy child. In gratitude, she established the tradition of worshipping cows on Govatsa Dwadashi.

Since then, mothers observe this vrata for the well-being of their children and for the prosperity of the household.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is Govatsa Dwadashi connected to Diwali?

Yes, in many traditions it marks the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, followed by Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj.

Q: What food is offered to cows on this day?

Wheat-based preparations such as chapatis, sweet porridge, kheer, and jaggery are commonly offered.

Panchanga on This Day

Govatsa Dwadashi · Nov 5, 2026

New Delhi, IndiaFull Dainik Panchang →

Festivals in the Same Lunar Month

Kartika

Oct28Karwa ChauthKartika Nov1Ahoi AshtamiKartika Nov6Dhanvantri (Dhana) JayantiKartika Nov6DhanterasKartika Nov6Yama-Deepa-DaanaKartika Nov7Kali ChaudasKartika

Coming Up Next

Nov7Narak ChaturdashiKartika Nov7Hanumaan JayantiKartika Nov8DiwaliKartika Nov8DeepavaliKartika Nov8Lakshmi PujaKartika Nov9Gauvardhanal AnnakootaKartika

View the full calendar →

Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).

Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.

Recommended Pages

CalendarHindu Calendar

Comprehensive annual Hindu calendar with tithis and festivals.

Explore

PanchangMonthly Panchang

Detailed month-wise view of lunar tithis and celestial events.

Explore

RegionalMarathi Calendar

Marathi Panchang and festive dates for the year.

Explore

RegionalGujarati Calendar

Gujarati Vikram Samvat calendar and festivals.

Explore

RegionalTelugu Calendar

Telugu calendar and festive Panchangam details.

Explore

RegionalTamil Calendar

Tamil solar calendar dates and monthly Panchangam.

Explore

About Govatsa Dwadashi

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Govatsa Dwadashi is observed by worshipping cows, fasting until evening, and offering wheat-based foods to cattle.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Wake before sunrise, bathe, and clean the home and cowshed thoroughly.
Bathe cows and calves with clean water; apply a tilak of turmeric and sandalwood on their foreheads and decorate their horns with garlands.
Prepare wheat dishes such as chapatis, sweet porridge, or kheer and feed them to the cows first before the family eats.
Perform a simple go-puja with incense, a lamp, and prayers to Kamadhenu.
Observe a fast or eat only satvik food until the evening go-puja is complete.
Listen to the Govatsa Dwadashi Katha and donate grains, fodder, or blankets to goshalas and the needy.

Vrat Katha: The Vow of Nandini

Soon the queen conceived and gave birth to a healthy child. In gratitude, she established the tradition of worshipping cows on Govatsa Dwadashi.

Since then, mothers observe this vrata for the well-being of their children and for the prosperity of the household.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is Govatsa Dwadashi connected to Diwali?

Yes, in many traditions it marks the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, followed by Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj.

Q: What food is offered to cows on this day?

Wheat-based preparations such as chapatis, sweet porridge, kheer, and jaggery are commonly offered.