Burhanpur farming family holds baby-shower ritual for pregnant cow in Borsar village

A farming family in Borsar village of Burhanpur district performed the godh bharai (baby-shower) ritual for their pregnant cow. The family considers the cow one of its own members, and the event was held in that spirit.

Farmer Haribhau Chaudhari and his wife Bebabai Chaudhari even had the house painted for the occasion. The cow was decorated and worshipped, and bhajan-kirtan was held. A toy, treated as the newborn, was rocked in a cradle.

Relatives and villagers attended the function. After the ritual, a community feast was arranged for the villagers.

Bebabai Chaudhari said the godh bharai ritual is performed whenever a woman in the family is pregnant. As the cow is also a member of the family, hers was performed too. She said the family regards the cow as a form of Lakshmi.

Farmer Ramakant Vasudev More praised the Chaudhari family's initiative. He said the cow has been given the status of a mother in Indian culture. According to him, the initiative has conveyed a message of love for animals.