Cows walk over devotees lying on ground in Govardhan Puja ritual at Bhidawad village in Badnagar

An old tradition was observed on Govardhan Puja at Bhidawad village in Badnagar tehsil of Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh. Devotees who have made vows lie on the ground and an entire herd of cows passes over them. Those present were stunned by the sight.

According to villagers, the tradition has continued for years and is held every year on Govardhan Puja. People from surrounding villages also come in large numbers to watch it. Onlookers hold their breath as the cows pass over the devotees.

Villagers hold a deep religious belief behind the practice. People believe that 33 crore gods and goddesses reside in a cow. Passing beneath the feet of cows is therefore believed to bring the blessings of the deities and fulfil wishes. Those in the village who have made a vow join the event and lie on the ground. According to the belief, those whose vows have been fulfilled also take part.

Participants have to make special preparations beforehand. They are said to fast for five days. A day before Deepavali, they go to the village's Mata temple and spend the night there. Bhajan-kirtan and worship are held at the temple during this time.

On the morning after Govardhan Puja, worship is performed according to rituals. A procession around the village then follows, with dhol, nagara and traditional instruments. Villagers show special enthusiasm during this. After the worship and procession, the village's cows are gathered at one place, and the main part of the tradition begins.

The cows are kept gathered on one side while the devotees who made vows lie in a row on the ground on the other. The herd is then released all at once. In moments, the cows pass over the devotees and move ahead. For those present, the sight is both thrilling and worrying.

After the cows have gone, the devotees get up and dance to the beat of the dhol. A festive mood spreads through the village. According to villager Kundan Malviya, several people took part in the tradition this year too in the morning and the herd passed over them. In previous years, more than a dozen people have taken part. According to villagers, only those who have made a vow take part.

However, the tradition of lying beneath the cows' feet is also risky, and there remains a possibility of serious injury.