Vatsa Dvadashi
festivalsAlso known as: Gau-Vatsal2, Vatsa Dvadashi
Quick Overview
- Date in 2026
- Monday, September 7, 2026
- Tithi
- Bhadrapada Krishna Dwadashi (Purnimanta)
- Tithi begins / ends
- 05:05 PM, Sep 07 to 02:43 PM, Sep 08
- Lunar month
- Bhadrapada · Krishna Paksha
Vatsa Dvadashi
Monday, September 7, 2026
Lunar Month: Bhadrapada
Vatsa Dvadashi at a Glance
Vatsa Dvadashi is fixed by the lunar calendar to Bhadrapada Krishna Dwadashi, the 12th tithi of the waning (Krishna) fortnight of Bhadrapada (Shravana Krishna Dwadashi in the Amanta calendar).
- Tithi rule
- Bhadrapada Krishna Dwadashi (Purnimanta)Krishna DwadashiBhadrapada month
- Tithi swami and group
- Vishnu · Bhadra Tithi
Bhadrapada Krishna Dwadashi in Coming Years
| Year | Tithi begins | Tithi ends |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 12:43 PM, Sat, Aug 28 | 09:36 AM, Sun, Aug 29 |
Panchanga on This Day
Vatsa Dvadashi · Sep 7, 2026
About Vatsa Dvadashi
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.
- 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.
Vatsa Dvadashi: Frequently Asked Questions
Bhadrapada Krishna Dwadashi (Shravana Krishna Dwadashi in the Amanta calendar); its swami is Vishnu, a Bhadra Tithi.
Krishna Dwadashi: 05:05 PM, Mon, Sep 7, 2026 to 02:43 PM, Tue, Sep 8, 2026 (IST).
Bhadrapada Krishna Dwadashi: 12:43 PM, Sat, Aug 28, 2027 to 09:36 AM, Sun, Aug 29, 2027 (IST).
Yes, in many traditions it marks the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, followed by Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj.
Wheat-based preparations such as chapatis, sweet porridge, kheer, and jaggery are commonly offered.
Festivals in the Same Lunar Month
Bhadrapada
Note: times are shown with their date; a Panchang day runs from sunrise to sunrise.
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Tamil solar calendar dates and monthly Panchangam.