Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SHS)
Mangalore, Jul 15: A tradition commonly practiced in India among the Hindu folk was observed here in the city on Monday July 14, but with a difference. The Mahalingeshwara temple authority of Pandeshwar offered a baby shower (Bayake) to a two-year-old cow Lakshimi inside the temple.
The baby shower was offered to the cow, which has conceived a calf by Nandi (male), as a mark of gratitude and respect for the milk they get from the cow for use in the anointment of temple idols during puja.
The cow was clad with saree and was beautified with gold ornaments. The cow was brought before the idol of the temple, outside the sanctum sanctorum, for the performance of baby shower.
Jeevan Kumar, administrator of the temple speaking to daijiworld on the new practice in DK said, "It is the duty of the human being to respect the cow. The temple started to rear the cow when it was in need of milk to offer it to god. Even after five years of cattle raring we had not found the best way to exhibit out love, gratitude and respect for the cow.
"Finally, the temple authority, on learning of the idea from an outsider, decided to offer baby shower to the cow which conceived recently. On this auspicious day, we served food to as many as 3,000 people. The temple also received sweets and vegetables from devotees in a show of solidarity with this new cultural initiative," he said.