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# Gaai Gohri: Gujarat village ritual where cattle run over villagers after Diwali
- URL: https://newsanek.com/gaai-gohri-dahod-gujarat-tradition/
- Published: 2026-11-12T12:34:29.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-12T12:50:46.000Z
- Description: The festival is held in tribal villages in Dahod district and is linked to the Hindu New Year. Villagers believe the ritual helps them seek forgiveness for any harm done to cattle.
- Author: Kumar Ujjwal
- Tags: India, Gujarat, Explainer, #state-gujarat, #state-desk, #region-west, #sm-52, #smemo-surprise

In Gujarat's Dahod district, a festival after Diwali draws attention for an old ritual.

It is called Gaai Gohri, and local communities have followed it for generations.

The festival is held in tribal villages such as Garbada. It is linked to the Hindu New Year celebrations.

### Key points

- Gaai Gohri is held after Diwali in tribal villages of Dahod district, Gujarat.
- Villagers lie on the ground while decorated cows and bulls run over them.
- The ritual is linked to beliefs about cattle, farming and seeking forgiveness.
- The festival is an annual event that villagers continue to observe.

## So what exactly happens during the festival?

The celebrations begin with prayers led by the village head.

After that, the cattle are decorated with colours and peacock feathers.

Bells are tied around the animals' legs. Their horns are also decorated with ornaments.

Once the prayers are over, the cows and bulls are brought together. They are then made to run through the village.

The main part of the ritual is simple to describe. Villagers lie face down on the ground.

The animals pass over them while others gather to watch.

How the Gaai Gohri ritual unfolds

1. *1*

**Prayers led by village head**The celebrations begin with prayers led by the village head.
2. *2*

**Cattle decorated**Animals are painted with colours and decorated with peacock feathers, bells and horn ornaments.
3. *3*

**Cattle run through village**Once prayers are over, cows and bulls are brought together and made to run through the village.
4. *4*

**Villagers lie face down**Villagers lie face down on the ground while the animals pass over them, as others gather to watch.

Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report

## Why do villagers believe in this ritual?

The ritual is closely tied to the role cattle play in farming families. Cows and bulls help with agricultural work.

Villagers believe the animals deserve respect.

They also believe the ritual lets people seek forgiveness for any harm they may have caused the animals while working in the fields.

A local farmer explained the belief this way.

Villagers see the cattle running over their backs as compensation for the hardships the animals face.

The footsteps are also seen as blessings from gods and goddesses.

## How big is the festival today?

A 2020 account said more than 1,500 bulls take part in the annual event across Dahod district.

The animals are painted and decorated for the occasion.

A more recent report said people from several villages gathered to observe the custom.

Participants lie in the path of the cattle to seek forgiveness.

For the communities that observe it, Gaai Gohri is more than an unusual sight.

It shows the place cattle hold in everyday life, farming and traditional belief.

Explainer

### What happened before

- Gaai Gohri is a festival held in tribal villages in Dahod district of Gujarat, after Diwali.
- The festival is linked to Hindu New Year celebrations and has been followed for generations.
- A 2020 account said more than 1,500 bulls take part in the annual event across Dahod district.

### Why it matters

The ritual shows the close bond between farming families and their cattle, and the beliefs that come with it.

### What to watch next

- The festival is held every year after Diwali, and villagers continue to gather for it.

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### Sources

- [Hindustan Times: Gaai Gohri: The Gujarat tradition where villagers let herds of cattle run over them](https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/gaai-gohri-the-gujarat-tradition-where-villagers-let-herds-of-cattle-run-over-them-101794471252919.html?ref=newsanek.com)