After performing Go Puja amid Vedic chants, CM feeds jaggery and bananas to cows and cattle
CM Yogi extends Govardhan Puja greetings to people of the state, says, “We must protect cows under all circumstances”
Gorakhpur, November 2026 : On the auspicious occasion of Govardhan Puja, an important festival in the five-day series of Diwali celebrations, Gorakshapeethadhishwar and CM Yogi Adityanath performed Govardhan Puja in accordance with prescribed rituals at the Gaushala of Gorakhnath Temple on Monday morning.
After the Go Puja, CM served the cows and extended his heartfelt greetings and best wishes to people of the state on Govardhan Puja. He stated, “We must protect cows under all circumstances. At the same time, we must move forward in the direction of improving their breed and ensure that every cattle rearer progresses on the path of prosperity.”
CM Yogi, who has been staying in Gorakhpur since Sunday, Diwali day, performed Govardhan Puja at the Gaushala of Gorakhnath Temple on Monday morning. He completed the rituals amid the chanting of Vedic mantras. He adorned the cows and cattle with garlands, applied tilak on their foreheads and sought the blessings of Gau Mata while praying for the happiness and prosperity of people of the state. After the Go Puja, CM personally fed jaggery and bananas to the cows and cattle. During the ceremony, he repeatedly called several cows and cattle by their names, approached them and showered them with affection.
After Govardhan Puja, CM, while interacting with the media, extended his heartfelt greetings and best wishes for Govardhan Puja to the people of the state and all cow rearers. He stated, “To uphold the tradition that establishes the importance of cows, government in UP is running an innovative program for the protection and promotion of destitute cattle through more than 7,700 Gaushalas. More than 16 lakh destitute cattle are being housed in these Gaushalas.”
CM Yogi stated, “State government is currently implementing three types of schemes for cow protection and promotion. First is the destitute cow shelters, which are operated by the government. Second is the Sahbhagita Scheme. Under this scheme, if a farmer takes a cow from a destitute cow shelter and takes care of it, government provides Rs. 1,500 per cow every month for its upkeep. A farmer is allowed to take up to four cows. This means that a farmer can earn an additional income of Rs. 6,000 every month through this scheme.
“Similarly, undernourished families are also provided one lactating cow each from destitute cow shelters so that they can consume milk. Under this third scheme, families are also given Rs. 1,500 per cow every month. Farmers and undernourished families have benefited from these schemes on a large scale.”
CM Yogi stated, “Third scheme is directly operated by the state government in both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, Animal Husbandry Department operates the cow shelters, while in urban areas, Urban Development Department operates them in the form of Kanha Upvan.
“Government's sole objective behind cow protection and promotion is to ensure that cows are not left on the roads. They should not damage farmers' crops. Instead, they should be cared for in a safe place and in a dignified manner.” CM noted that destitute cow shelters were established with this very objective and are now being operated successfully.
CM Yogi stated, “In an agriculture- and cattle-oriented country like India, cow is its soul. Importance of cows and cattle has always been given priority in India's religious and agriculture-based traditions. This tradition is carried forward in the form of Govardhan Puja on the day after Diwali. A cow is an extremely important gift in the form of an animal. It is a treasure trove of prosperity in itself. Go Seva is the most important means of attaining all four Purusharthas: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Wherever sincere efforts are made to protect and promote cows and cattle as part of a tradition, happiness and prosperity will automatically follow.”
On the occasion of Govardhan Puja, CM appealed to all people of the state to follow Indian tradition of serving cows. He stated, “In Indian tradition, first morsel of food is meant for the cow and last morsel for the dog. If every family follows this tradition and makes arrangements to provide a share of food for both the cow and the dog, it would be a great act of service.”
CM stated, “Citizens who cannot rear cows can contribute to Gaushalas run for charitable purposes and participate in the service of cows. Go Seva will bring happiness and prosperity to the homes of those who serve cows.”
