Govardhan Puja held at Burhanpur's Pratappura gaushala; MP Patil honours cattle keepers

Govardhan Puja was held on Tuesday at the Pratappura gaushala (cow shelter) in Burhanpur. On the appeal of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, the BJP Kisan Morcha organised the programme at cow shelters across the state. MP Gyaneshwar Patil also honoured cattle keepers on the occasion.

BJP Kisan Morcha state general secretary Manoj Ladhwe said the auspicious time for Govardhan Puja ran over two days. For this reason, the Morcha held a programme at the Khaknar gaushala on Monday and at the Pratappura gaushala on Tuesday.

Ladhwe said the government was promoting cattle rearing and that the number of cow shelters in Madhya Pradesh would be increased. According to him, the government would give subsidies to those who rear good-breed cows. Citing Gujarat as an example, Ladhwe said cattle rearing had brought prosperity there. He said good-breed cows had been made available there through women's groups. He said milk production in Madhya Pradesh was low and the government wanted to start a model like Gujarat's here. The model includes breed improvement and the participation of women's groups in the cooperative sector.

MP Gyaneshwar Patil said people had been performing Govardhan Puja for centuries and Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav had made efforts to keep the tradition alive. Patil also said farmers regard the cow as mother, but their inclination towards cattle rearing is gradually declining. According to him, the government is providing assistance to increase farmers' interest.

Mayor Madhuri Patel, former mayor Anil Bhosle, Atul Patel, former BJP district president Dilip Shroff and former municipal council president Manoj Tarwala were among several other public representatives present at the programme.