Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 10: ‘Bacch Dua’- the Dogra folk festival symbolizing the bond between mother and child, was celebrated today with traditional fervor and customary rituals across the Jammu region.
On the occasion, Dogra mothers observed fast and visited temples to perform rituals praying for long life of their sons. They offered the sweet Rotis called ‘Rutt’, soaked black grams and the likes.
In the temples, there was hustle bustle of women performing these rituals associated with the festival. Elderly women were seen guiding young mothers and newly married in offering customary rituals and prayers in groups. The sweet Rotis, offered while performing prayers in the temple, were later served as Prasad to the family members.
Symbolizing the bond between mother and child, this is one of the few folk festivals of Dogras and assumes significance among women.
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There are different legends associated with ‘Bacch Dua’ or Govatsa Dwadashi. According to a legend, miscommunication between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law led to the latter cooking Bacch (male calf) instead of Mach (fish). On noticing this blunder, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law prayed to God and begged Bacch back to life before the mother cow returns from fields. God granted this wish and hence women celebrate the occasion. A male child, symbolic of ‘Bacch’ has ceremonial importance in the festival.
According to another legend, from the great churning of the ocean (Samudramanthan), five wish-fulfilling cows (Kamadhenus) emerged. Among these five wish-fulfilling cows, a divine cow Nanda had also emerged. This religious observance is performed to worship this divine cow Nanda.
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