Hindu ceremony to celebrate cows and new year

Organisers said cows were especially revered by Hindus all over the world

As part of the Diwali festivities, Hindus are gathering at a ceremony to respect and honour the sacred cow with flowers and organic vegetables.

Officials say the event, on Saturday, is to offer "thanks, love and respect" for what the cows, which are revered in Hindu tradition, offer to us.

The ceremony is being hosted at Ahimsa Eco Farm in Oakham, Rutland, where the cows are being offered homemade jaggery sweets and decorated with flower garlands.

The farm's milk production follows the teaching of Ahimsa, which is often translated as non-violence.

The cows are being offered organic vegetables and homemade sweets

Later in the day, at the Temple on Granby Street, Leicester, hundreds of platters of vegetarian food will be on display at the Govardhan Puja festival, which also marks the Hindu New Year.

Pradyumna Das, Temple President of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Leicester branch, who is hosting the ceremony, says: “Cows are especially revered by Hindus all over the world, and on this day, we offer them thanks, love and respect for what they offer to us.

"We are fortunate to be able to visit the Ahimsa Eco Farm project, which is dedicated to respecting and protecting the cows, giving people an ethical choice.”

The Govardhan festival marks when Lord Krishna lifted the hill for seven days, using it as an umbrella to shelter the residents who were afflicted by a terrible storm.

It is celebrated as an act of sharing and kindness, and all are welcome at both the farm and temple, organisers say.