KATHMANDU: The fourth day of the five-day Hindu festival of Tihar is being celebrated across Nepal today, marked by Gai Puja (cow worship), Goru Puja (ox worship), and Govardhan Puja rituals.

This year, both Gai Puja and Goru Puja fall on the same day. During Gai Puja, devotees worship cows — revered in Hinduism as symbols of prosperity and motherhood — by offering sweets, garlands, and special delicacies.

A sacred thread tied during Janai Purnima is traditionally fastened to the cow’s tail, a symbolic act believed to help the soul cross the mythical Baitarni River and reach heaven after death.

Simultaneously, devotees also observe Govardhan Puja, commemorating the legend of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Mountain to shield the people of Gokul from torrential rains unleashed by Lord Indra.

As part of the ritual, miniature replicas of the mountain are made from cow dung, and homes and courtyards are decorated with mixtures of cow dung and ochre — symbolizing purification and devotion.

The day also honors oxen through Goru Puja, recognizing their indispensable contribution to agriculture and daily livelihood.

Farmers across Nepal worship and feed their oxen with love and gratitude, celebrating their role in sustaining the nation’s agrarian economy.

Together, the three pujas embody reverence for nature, animals, and agrarian life — the essence of Tihar’s harmony between humans and the divine.