LUCKNOW: After the UP Gau Sewa Aayog asked district magistrates to replicate the Deepotsav in Ayodhya by lighting lamps in every gaushala (cow shelter) in the state, authorities in
Gorakhpur district were asked to offer 'gur' and 'chana' to cattle in cow protection homes on the occasion of
Govardhan Puja, held a day after Diwali.
Gorakhpur divisional commissioner Jayant Narlikar sent out an order, a copy of which is with TOI, to feed cattle 'gur-chana'.
The commissioner's order had veterinary doctors and other local authorities rushing to purchase gur-chana and offer them to cattle and post their photos and videos to top authorities in the government.
Earlier, the Gau Sewa Aayog, just ahead of Diwali, had issued an order to all district magistrates to ensure Deepotsava at government-run gaushalas by lighting earthen lamps with mustard oil
On Diwali night, thousands of gaushalas were lit up in the state with earthen lamps.
Chief minister
Yogi Adityanath had enforced the ban on cow slaughter in the state soon after assuming power two-and-a-half years ago. With number of stray cattle growing in UP, the government ordered building of gaushalas on government land for stray cattle.
The state government also ordered that they be fed and maintained and released Rs 30 a day per cow for this.