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Breeds of Vrindavan and the Braj gaushalas

The country of Krishna the cowherd, where gaushalas care for thousands of cows and Govardhan Puja is kept after Diwali.

Vrindavan and the Braj gaushalas

Breeds of this place

Hariana cattleMewati cattleGyr cattle

Best time: October to November for Diwali and Govardhan Puja; February to March for Holi.

Vrindavan and the land of Braj around Mathura are where Hindu tradition places the childhood of Krishna, raised among cowherds and known as Gopala and Govinda, protector of cows. The region is full of temples, and also of gaushalas, shelters where cows, including old, injured and abandoned animals, are kept and fed by temples, trusts and donors.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg. Photographed in Vrindaban, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Photo: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Krishna and the cows

Stories of Braj tell of Krishna herding cattle in the forests along the Yamuna, playing the flute to call them home, and lifting Govardhan hill to shelter the herders and their cows from a storm. These stories are remembered at Govardhan Puja, the day after Diwali, when mountains of food are offered and cows are bathed, painted and garlanded. Gopashtami, a week later, is also a day for honouring cows.

The gaushalas

Gaushalas in Braj range from small temple sheds to large shelters with thousands of animals. Many cows in them are local non-descript cattle, while some shelters keep desi breeds such as Hariana and Gir. Visitors often bring green fodder or jaggery as an offering. Care of stray and unproductive cattle is a growing question across north India, and shelters here are part of how the region responds.

A trail idea for Vrindavan and the Braj gaushalas

  1. Banke Bihari temple The busiest temple in Vrindavan, at the heart of the old town.
  2. A gaushala Visit at feeding time; many shelters welcome visitors who bring fodder.
  3. Govardhan parikrama The walk of about 21 kilometres around the sacred hill.
  4. Yamuna ghats Evening lamps on the river where Krishna is said to have herded cattle.
About this page

Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Vrindavan" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.

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