Karnataka govt asks temples to conduct cow worship on Balipadyami
The Karnataka government has asked all state-run temples to organise 'Go puja' (cow worship) on October 26 in view of 'Balipadyami', as part of the Deepavali festivities, with an intention to "protect and nurture" this ancient practice of the Sanatana Hindu Dharma.
The Karnataka government has asked all state-run temples to organise 'Go puja' (cow worship) on October 26 in view of 'Balipadyami', as part of the Deepavali festivities, with an intention to "protect and nurture" this ancient practice of the Sanatana Hindu Dharma.
At least on Balipadyami day, it is appropriate for notified temples to compulsorily perform cow worship so that people don't forget this practice of the Sanatana Hindu Dharma," the circular read. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP) (AFP)
The Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department said in a circular the puja should be conducted between 5.30 and 6.30 PM that day at the auspicious 'Godhooli lagna'.
It said the cows should be given a bath, brought to temples, decorated with vermilion, turmeric and flowers and fed rice, jaggery, bananas and sweets, before worshipping them with lamps and incense sticks.
The circular, explaining the significance of cows in Hindu tradition, says Hindus have been worshipping cows from time immemorial; however of late, people in cities and towns have forgotten cow worship.
"At least on Deepavali-Balipadyami day, it is appropriate for notified temples to compulsorily perform cow worship so that people don't forget this practice of the Sanatana Hindu Dharma and the future generations also get introduced to this", the circular said.
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.
