Team Herald
PONDA: Gorvancho Padwo was celebrated on Tuesday across Goa with some cattle receiving love and affection from their owners, while the strays were left to fend for themselves.
When this day approaches, two scenes cross our mind – one of the strays living under the stars, sun and on streets and the lucky few enjoying the luxury and affection of their owners in the shade and under the protection of their masters.
Nowadays, the first category is mostly seen everywhere moving in groups, on the streets and grazing in the open and abandoned fields and also around the garbage bins scurrying for food to survive the vagaries of nature and fight against their predators.
Kavlem local Ramdas Naik feels that these animals have lost closeness with humans, who prefer the modern machines which have made their life easier.
Naik says that the local breed of animals is left to fend for themselves as humans have opted for healthy breed of animals.
The local variety of cows is being abandoned by locals with option of fetching higher quantity milk from cross breeding.
Goa is no different as most people prefer white collar jobs while the rest are least interested in farming, especially dairy farming.
Some cattle have been abandoned as most people are inclined towards white collared and government jobs. More than 50 per cent of the population has left dairy and agricultural activities, which has forced these animals to die on road. The presence of these abandoned cattle has also caused several accidents wherein many people have been injured and have even lost their lives.
The long tradition of Gorvancho Padwo was celebrated at several places in Ponda too.
Gorvancho Padwo is celebrated during Diwali after Laxmi Puja. On this day cows are worshipped. Early morning, the cowshed is cleaned and decorated with flowers along with mango tree leaves.
Earlier, most people in every village use to rear cattle for farming and for milk purpose.
Once in year during Gorvancho Padwo the cattle is given bath, then worshipped and fed.
Some animal lovers, goshalas are providing services and food to stray cattle but most of abandoned stray cattle are seen on road, which is the only shelter for them.
The cowshed are now converted into rooms and rented out. The grazing land has also been converted into industrial estates or residential complexes. These cattle, who have been deprived of grazing land for fodder, are now left to feed on plastic dumped along the roadside, which results in their death.
