Bahula Chaturthi (Bol Choth/Bahula Chauth) 2025

Bahula Chaturthi aka Bol Chauth Vrat is a cultural festival of India wherein the cattle are worshiped by the farming community, especially women. The festival happens during the auspicious month of Shravan . While the festival is celebrated across the county, it is reverentially celebrated in the state of Gujarat a day before Nag Panchami . On this day, cows and calves are worshipped. It is believed that those who fast the whole day on Bahula Chaturthi and worship cows in the evening attract fortune. Devotees on this day refrain from having milk and consuming milk products, considering that only calves have the right to drink cow milk. Pictures or idols Lord Krishna signifying His love for the cows called Surabhi cows, are worshipped by the devotees. The farming communities throughout Gujarat get up early in the morning. The sheds and the cattle are washed thoroughly on the occasion. Delicious eatables are prepared from rice and offered to the cattle.

When is Bahula Chaturthi? Bol Chauth Date & Timing (Tithi & Muhurat)

Bol Choth on Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Godhuli Puja Muhurat - 06:04 PM to 06:30 PM
Duration - 00 Hours 26 Mins
Moonrise on Bol Choth Day - 08:20 PM
Chaturthi Tithi Begins - 08:40 AM on Aug 12, 2025
Chaturthi Tithi Ends - 06:35 AM on Aug 13, 2025

Bahula Chaturthi Meaning

Bahula means Cow & Chaturthis means the 4th day of lunar cycle. Therefore, Bahula Chaturthis means a special day dedicated to the Upkeep & Worship of Cows on the 4th day of Krishna Paksha of Shravan Month.

Bahula Chaturthi Puja Vidhi (Ritual):

Generally, food items prepared during Bahula Chaturthi include those made of millets. An interesting point to be known here is that people on this day prepare or cook and eat food items out in the open under the sky. Villagers organize special prayer sessions in the evenings. Priests or Brahmins leading the devotees recite scriptural legends of cows and the cow-tending boy baby Krishna of Vraj.

Bahula Chaturthi Vrat Vidhi (Fasting Rituals):

Bahula Chauth is fasted on the Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada. This fast is observed by mothers to protect their sons. Items made of wheat and rice are prohibited on this day. The law of worshiping a clay statue of cow and lion is prevalent. This fast is also called Gau Pooja Vrat. Consumption of cow products is considered prohibited. It is believed that only the calves have the right over the milk of this cow. Fasting is done by mothers on this day for longevity and safety of their children.  Usually, people eat only Millets Food Items & Fruits. Usually, people avoid eating anything needs to cut from a knife.

Bahula Chauth Vrat Katha:

There’s a legend or Vrat Katha (story of this festival) popular among the farming communities especially of Gujarat. There was a cow named Bahula who faced a lion while going home to feed her calf. The hungry lion intimidated her and made it clear he wanted to satisfy his hunger with her flesh. Scared to death, the cow gathered some courage and said she needs to feed her calf. Once done, she will come back, and he then can have her. The lion let her go and awaited her return. After feeding her calf, she returned and surprised the lion. The lion was shocked to see her commitment and let her go. The passion, anger and physical strength of the lion could not stand the cow’s ever-increasing love for her calf.

Another legend popular in the Morbi region of Kutch (Gujarat) is that once a married woman of a farmer’s family had ignorantly killed a calf named Ghaulo instead of ‘Ghauulo’ regional and traditional name for wheat grains. Sacred to death, her mother-in-law hid the dead calf away in the forest. When the villagers unearthed the truth, they informed the Villages’s head. Considering the heinous act was committed by a married woman in ignorance, the head declared that on this day no one would make any milk products, eat wheat items or anything that needs to be cut with a knife. Only millet items and steamed green grams should be consumed.