Dogra mothers pray for their sons as Jammu celebrates ‘Bacch Dua’

Women performing rituals for long life of their sons on the occasion of ‘Bacch Dua’ in Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Women performing rituals for long life of their sons on the occasion of ‘Bacch Dua’ in Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 27: `Bacch Dua’ – the Dogra folk festival which symbolizes the bond between mother and child, was celebrated today in Jammu with traditional fervor and customary rituals.
Mothers observed the fast and visited temple to offer the sweet Rotis called ‘Rutt’, soaked black grams and the likes to perform rituals praying for long life of their sons. This fast is observed by consuming one meal. However , in the meal cow milk and the dishes made from it and fried foods are not consumed.

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It is also an occasion to reunion and rejuvenation as well as celebration of traditional culture and customs. There was extra ordinary hustle bustle in the temples where Dogra mothers assembled and offered prayers in groups.
There are legends associated with Bacch Dua or Govatsa Dwadashi. According to a legend, miscommunication between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law leads to the latter cooking Bacch (male calf) instead of Mach (fish). On noticing this blunder, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pray to God and beg Bacch back to life before the mother cow returns from fields. God grants this wish and hence women celebrate the occasion. A male child, symbolic of slaughtered `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 vowed religious observance is performed to worship this divine cow Nanda.

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