Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performed Govardhan Puja at Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur on Monday and said more than 16 lakh destitute cattle were being housed in over 7,700 gaushalas across the state.
The rituals were conducted at the temple cowshed amid Vedic chants. Adityanath applied tilak to the foreheads of the cattle, decorated them with garlands and fed them jaggery and bananas.
Greeting the people of Uttar Pradesh and cattle rearers on the occasion, the chief minister said cows must be protected while efforts should also be made to improve their breed and raise the income and prosperity of cattle rearers.
Adityanath said the state government was implementing three schemes focused on cow protection and promotion. The first involves government-run shelters for destitute cattle.
Under the second initiative, known as the Sahbhagita scheme, farmers who look after cows from these shelters receive ₹1,500 per cow every month. A farmer can take responsibility for up to four cows and receive a maximum monthly assistance of ₹6,000.
The third scheme provides a lactating cow from a shelter to undernourished families. Such families are also given ₹1,500 every month towards the animal’s upkeep.
The Animal Husbandry Department manages cow shelters in rural areas, while the Urban Development Department operates similar facilities in cities under the name Kanha Upvan.
Adityanath said the government’s objective was to prevent cattle from being abandoned on roads and from damaging farmers’ crops. He said the animals should instead be kept in safe surroundings and cared for with dignity.
Calling the cow the “soul” of an agriculture- and cattle-based country such as India, the chief minister asked people to maintain the tradition of reserving the first portion of their food for a cow and the last for a dog. He also appealed to those unable to rear cattle to support charitable gaushalas.
Govardhan Puja is traditionally associated with the belief that Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Braj from torrential rain sent by Lord Indra. The festival also celebrates nature, agriculture, cattle and the relationship between people and the environment.
Adityanath later conducted a Janata Darshan at the Gorakhnath Temple premises, where he heard the grievances of 125 people. He met the complainants, accepted their applications and instructed officials to ensure that their concerns were addressed promptly, impartially and within a fixed timeframe.
“Do not worry. The government will ensure effective action on every problem,” he told the people, while directing officials to deal with the complaints sensitively and resolve them to the satisfaction of the applicants.
Some visitors sought financial assistance for medical treatment. The chief minister said no person’s treatment should stop because of a lack of funds and instructed officials to prepare medical estimates without delay so that financial support could be released promptly.
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