Describing the killing of the cow as violation of the fundamental rights of billions of Hindus, the delegation urged the President to declare the cow as cultural legacy of the nation, enact a central law for her protection and ensure complete ban on the slaughter of entire govansh. In the memorandum submitted to the President the saints and leaders also demanded to form a separate ministry at the centre for protection and promotion of Indian breeds of cow.

Demanding the formation of at least one Kamdhenu University in all the states, the delegation appealed to the President to create the atmosphere in the country where all the farmers could live a dignified life and no farmer needs to commit suicide anywhere in the country.

According to Shri Sitaram Kedilaya, a member of the delegation, the President heard the delegation very patiently for about an hour and assured to take appropriate action.

The 18-member delegation was led by Gokarna Peethadhishwar Shankaracharya Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji. Other members of the delegation included Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, former RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri KS Sudarshan, Pejawar Swami Shri Vishvesha Teertha, working president of the Yatra Samiti and noted yoga scientist Dr HR Nagendra, Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara, noted panchgavya scientist and president of Krishi Gousewa Sangh Shri Kesari Chand Mehta, guide of the Yatra Samiti Shri Sitaram Kedilaya, vice president of the Yatra Samiti Shri Hukum Chand Sanwala, general secretary of the Samiti Shri Diwakar Shastri, former CBI director Sardar Joginder Singh, general secretary of the Acharya Mahasabha Swami Paramatmanand Maharaj on behalf of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vijayamrita Chaitanya on behalf of Mata Amritanandamayi, Shri Adesh Goel on behalf of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji, Chhote Miyan Moinuddin Sabari from Uttarakhand, Buddhist leader Shri Rahul Bodhi and Shri Jashvir Singh Namdhari on behalf of Sadguru Jagjit Singh.

There was a planning to take all the signatures to Rashtrapati Bhavan in bullock carts. They were loaded in 11 bullock carts from Udasin Ashram, Aaram Bagh and were then taken to Ramlila Grounds in a procession. But the administration did not grant permission to the bullock carts for Rashtrapati Bhavan and procession had to be culminated at Ramlila Grounds.

Prior to it, the saints addressed a mammoth rally at Ramlila Grounds and warned the government not to test the patience of the countrymen. After a long time the Ramlila Grounds was seen so much packed. Many people were standing as there was no space to sit in the ground. More than 35,000 goubhaktas assembled at the rally pledged to involve themselves in constructive activities of cow protection in different parts of the country.

Addressing the gathering Shankaracharya Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swami described the hastaksharas (signatures) collected from the goubhaktas as divyakashar (divine letters) and said they reflected the voice from the heart of the countrymen. He said if the government fails to take any effective step for cow protection; the saints would have to call for a sangram (battle) in coming days.

Former RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri KS Sudarshan said the chemical fertilizers and pesticides ruined the Indian agriculture and this was the prime reason of suicides by over two lakh farmers in different parts of the country. He said organic farming is the remedy that can save both the country and the farmers from destruction. He urged the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and President Smt Pratibha Patil to respect the sentiments of the countrymen and ensure complete ban on cow slaughter.

VHP president Shri Ashok Singhal said the saints had presented about two crore signatures to the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1952 and now again they presented over eight crore signatures to the President for the same objective. It is highly unfortunate that no government respected the sentiments of the majority of the countrymen so far. He said the cow must be protected if the great Indian culture has to be protected.

Pejawar Swami Shri Vishvesh Teertha Maharaj stressed the need to create Cow Zones in the country instead of Special Economic Zones. He said both the ‘culture’ and ‘agriculture’ of the country are being targeted and both of them need to be saved at any cost. He said the foreign methods of farming based on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and machines have made everything poisonous resulting in many critical diseases. He described the cow, Geeta and village as foundation of building Gramrajya.

Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara said no countrymen should sit silent till the complete ban on cow slaughter is imposed in the country. Buddhist leader Shri Rahul Bodhi said the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra has been successful in generating the feeling of national integration all over the country. Assuring full support to the campaigns for cow protection he said there must be complete ban on cow slaughter in the country.

Working president of the Yatra Samiti Dr HR Nagendra said after conducting mass awareness all over the country it is the time to start constructive activities at the village level for cow protection.

Shri Kesari Chand Mehta who has been conducting experiments on panchgavya and has successfully cured thousands of cancer patients through panchgavya demanded the government to restore gochar land that has been snatched by the government itself all over the country.

Swami Paramatmanand, Gujarat state president of the Yatra Samiti and general secretary of Acharya Sabha said it has now fully been proved that the cow of Indian breed can give more milk than a cross breed cow. He stressed the need to make the goushalas self-dependent.

President of Sadbhavana Manch, Bijnaur, Mufti Samum Kasami said the cow should have been declared a national animal immediately after achieving Independence in 1947. The mistake can be rectified even now. He made it clear that Muslims are not against the cow slaughter and more than eight lakh Muslims have signed the memorandum for cow protection. He said those who are involved in cow slaughter should first be educated and then be punished.

Maulana Maghaburrahman Islam, president Mujahib Muttaihaida Majlis Shora, said the cow belongs to all countrymen and the country should not tolerate cruelty on her.

According to Dr HR Nagendra over 8.36 crore signatures were collected during the 108 day Gou Gram Yatra which began from Kurukshetra on September 30, 2009 and concluded in Nagpur on January 17, 2010. He said about three crore women signed the memorandum. He said 130 MPs, 780 MLAs, 37,869 people’s representatives in local bodies and 72,195 dignitaries also signed the memorandum.

He pointed out that during the Yatra, programmes were conducted in 1,83,387 villages and more than four lakh villages were touched through various activities. Functions were also held in 80 Mahanagar, 1249 cities, 6,091 Khand, 29,822 Mandalas and 11,009 Bastis. During the main Yatra a total of 396 public meetings were held and the Yatra was accorded welcome at 1,199 places. Besides it the part of the main Yatra which visited the North eastern states simultaneously addressed 372 public meetings. Talking about the upyatras he said a total of 91,342 public meetings were held during the upyatras. He said a total of 1,12,432 volunteers including 7,667 full time workers, participated in the campaigns. He said the Yatra travelled the distance of 26,000 km in 108 days and it toured Haryana, Punjab, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicheri, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Delhi.

By Pramod Kumar

On this programme starts at 11 am

The Chief Guests will be :

P.P. Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji

P.P. Yogaguru Baba Ramdev

P.P. Swami Jayendra Saraswathi

P.P. Swami Vishwesha Teertha Maharaj

P.P. Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji

P.P. Swami Dayananda Saraswathi

P.P. Morari Bapu

Shri K.S. Sudarshan

Shri Ashok Singhal

Shri Kutti Menon

Shri Soli Sorabi

Shri Jasvir Singh Namdhari

Shri Subhash Goel

Shri Kesri Chand Mehta

Shri Moisis E. Don

Shri Rahul Bodhi

Maulana Maghburrahman Islam

Mufti Samum Qasmi

On the same day a memorandum with crores together Signatures (collected from throughout the nation) will be submitted to the Honourable President of India.

26 delegates of the National Committee of Vishwa Mangala Gou Grama Yathra will submit the memorandum.

Main Demands will be :

• Declare our Indian Cow as a National Animal of India.
• Calling for the end of cruelty to cow.

The concluding ceremony was marked by the vow administered by none other than the Shankaracharya of Gokarna Peeth Sri Swami Raghaveshwar Bharti Maharaj, to the vast gathering, to save cow which he described as very soul of Bharat, even at the cost of one’s life, for such a death would far better than life itself. Thousands of citizens who attended the valedictory function repeated the vow to protect the cow with full devotion and firm determination.

A galaxy of saints, thinkers and scholars descended on Nagpur to address the concluding function of the Yatra. They included Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, who flew in by a special plane to address the meeting, Sharkarcharya of Karveer Peeth Swami Vidya Nrisingh Bharti, Acharya Mahasabha President Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat, Jain Muni Pavitra Sagarji Maharaj, Vishwa Hindu Parishad President Ashokji Singhal, Buddhist saint Bhante Gyan Jagatji, Bhadant Rahul Bodhiji, Maulana Bashir Qadri of Chhattisgarh, Haji Taiyab Qureshiji, Swami Sahdev Das of ISKCON, Rashtra Sevika Samiti’s Pramukh Sanchalika Pramilataiji Medhe, Bhavna Behan of Gitai Mission, and famous thespian Suresh Oberoi.

Basappa Swami Nandi (Bull), peethadish of Sannakarai mutt in Doddarasinkare village in Mandya district of Karnataka presided over the valedictory function. The Nandiswamy, who is said to have blessed with some divine powers, was the centre of attraction for the past couple of days at the exhibition that preceded the function. He was ceremoniously brought to the dais where he proceeded to the Shankaracharya Ragheshwar Bharti and bowed to him with tearful eyes. The Acharya fondled him, wiped his tears and then only the Nandiswami occupied his seat at a corner of the dais where he stood nearly four and a half hours throughout the meeting. This was probably for the first time in the present history that a bull presided over a public meeting of such a grandeur and significance.

Swami Raghaveshwar Bharti, who conceived the idea of the 108-day-long public unique awareness campaign and presided over it all along its 25000 km route, said that this event heralded the rebirth of Gaumata and Bharatmata. “I have no doubt that resurgence of Bharat will be through cow protection only”, he assured the audience to a thunderous applause.

Stating unequivocally, the Shankaracharya said that the cow was not just an animal, she is the soul of Bharat and hence, cow and Bharat were one, inseparable. We must protect this soul of our motherland even at the cost of our own lives.

Explaining the concept of the yatra, Swami Ragheshwar Bharti said: “It was conceived at Nagpur some time ago when I visited the summer training camp of RSS. It was a moment of re-birth for me when I resolved to dedicate myself for this event”. It was a happy coincidence that this yatra is concluding at a place where its seeds were sown, he said.

Drawing a parallel he said that whenever any great soul undergoes sorrow and pains, it indicated the coming of Dharmarajya. Today, the cow is experiencing untold misery and pains and this was the opportunity to protect her in order to ensure the heralding of new Dharmarajya. This is possible only if we remain vigilant and come out of the deep slumber, he said, appealing to the masses to give up lethargy and be vigilant.

“This is not the formal end of the yatra. It is the beginning of a movement to protect the cow and its progeny in Bharat”, the Shankaracharya said exuding confidence that this movement would fetch success overcoming all odds and obstacles in the near future.

Shri Mohanrao Bhagwat

Addressing the gathering RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat said that the thinking on cow and her place in our life is the ‘post-modern thinking’. He laid three preconditions for all round development of human beings namely, decentralized planning, feeling of fraternity and harmonious relationship with the nature. He said that this was the thinking and vision of Hindus since the hoary past and cow was the centre of this thinking because cow teaches us all these three pre-requisites for better and balanced development.

The world today is desperately looking for an alternative for peaceful and prosperous life. All the alternatives have been tried by the people, but no one proved better. It was therefore, imperative on our part to rejuvenate and develop according to the changing time the system of cow protection and development of villages. For this, we need to value the labor, harmony with nature and evolve a system that would encompass all. The cow has all these three virtues and she is the very embodiment of these qualities. We must protect her and rear her for imbibing these virtues in our day-to-day life, Dr Bhagwat appealed to the gathering.

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev

In a strong and emotional appeal to people of all faiths, sects and religions in Bharat, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, who flew in for this program from Hardwar in a special plane, said that irrespective of our present-day mode of worship, all our forefathers were same and they were worshipping the cow. Till 1760, there was total ban on cow slaughter, prostitution and drinking wine. But with the advent of the British, all these three taboos were given the legal status by Robert Clive. “Presently there are 36,000 slaughter houses, and 32,000 liquor shops in the country. Around 10 crore cows are slaughtered every year in Bharat. We are witnessing the poisonous effects of this today. To save ourselves and our future generations, we should return to the lifestyle of our ancestors”, he said.

Baba Ramdev stressed that we should strive hard to continue our struggle till the government enacts law to ban cow slaughter, to promote organic farming and to encourage products from such farming, to purchase and consume only organic food even if is cost us more, use medicines made from cow urine and panchagavya, and extend all help to gaushalas in the country to save the cow and save Bharatmata.

Declaring that cow was not a sectarian animal sacred to only the Hindus, Baba Ramdev said that this program was not the end of the campaign but an occasion to vow to protect the cow. “Saving the cow is the collective responsibility of all irrespective of religion, creed, or sect or caste. If we fail to protect the cow today, we may lose our own existence  soon”, he warned.

Describing cow as foundation of self-healing and self-realization, Baba Ramdev said that saving the cow would lead saving of Rs. 12 lakh crore of Indian currency from going out through chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Delivering his sermon in chaste Marathi, Karveer Peethadhish Shankaracharya Vidya Nrising Bharti said that tractor and chemical fertilizers are our enemies as both involve foreign investment and cause incurable damage to our soil and agriculture. He called for reviving traditional method of farming which was primarily based on cow.

Maulana Bashir Qadri

Maulana Bashir Qadri, who is Alim of Chhattisgarh, vouched the whole-hearted support of the Muslims for protecting cow. “I am feeling a sense of pride by associating myself with this movement and the time is not very far when this country will witness the participation of thousands of Muslims like me joining this movement”, he said amidst thunderous applause from the audience.

Vouchsafing that not a single cow is slaughtered in any corner of Chhattisgarh in spite of presence of lakhs of Muslims, Maulana Qadri said, “If cow slaughter is to be banned only with the signatures of the Muslims and cow be declared as national animal, then we assure you that crores of Muslims will come forward and give their signatures for the purpose.

Quoting the Holy Quran and Prophet Mohamemd, he said that the Prophet had ruled against eating beef but advocated consumption of cow milk. He appealed to Muslims in Bharat to understand this and act accordingly. He said that we were committed to save cow and make Bharat Vishwaguru once again.

Haji Taiyab Qureshi

There was no precious thing than peace. The division of humanity into ‘Darul Aman and Darul Harab’ was basically wrong. The Prophet had given a mission to make ‘Darul Insan’ and therefore, it was the duty of the Muslims to honor the feelings of the Hindus, said Haji taiyab Qureshi, who is President of ‘Gauhatya virodhi Muslim Sangharsha Samiti.’ The government could be pressurized to enact a law in case of Shahbano ignoring the decision of the Supreme Court, why can’t we exert similar pressure on the government for the law banning cow slaughter, he asked.

He appealed to the people not to use articles made out of cow skin. The Haji promised to take out a rally of the Muslims on Novemebr 7, 2010 at New Delhi to press for the law banning cow slaughter. It may be recalled that on the same day in 1965, the then government of India used force to disperse the march of saints demanding ban on cow slaughter in New Delhi. He promised the gathering that we would protect the cow at any cost.

Sri Sahdevdasji Maharaj

All the destructive events that were taking place in various parts of the world were due to illogical killing of cows, declared Swami Sahdevdasji Maharaj of ISKCON, Hyderabad. He said that India ranked third in export of beef. Brazil tops the list of beef exporting countries and Australia is at the second position. There is still time to understand this conspiracy of ruining the Indian farming and eliminating cows from India, he said adding that we must reciprocate the cow for the good things it gave us.

Jain Saint Pavitra Sagarji Maharaj

The cow was accorded top priority in Jain sect and in fact, the cow was the symbol of the first Jain Teerthankar Adinathji Maharaj. In the life of a Jain saint the cow bore immense respect and significance. There is need to declare tractors, pesticides and chemical fertilizers as enemies of the cow before declaring it as our national animal, he said.

Vandaniya Pramilataiji Medhe

Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti Vandaniya Pramilataiji Medhe in her very brief but meaningful address said that as a society we have our own responsibility and commitment to save the cow. We should protect, honor and rear the cow and should not tolerate her insult at any cost. Our behavior and approach towards this great creature called Gaumata, will be the barometer of our respect for it, she said.

Rahul Bodhiji Maharaj

Noted Buddhist saint Bhante Rahul Bodhiji Maharaj said that all the Buddhist honor and respect the cows. He said that Lord Buddha had described various virtues of the cow. The need was to purify our minds of all defilements. He assured that entire Buddhist society was I favor of protecting the cow and extended his whole-hearted support to the movement.

Namdhari Saint Harpal Dasji Maharaj

Namdhari samaj has been at the forefront in cow protection since the historical times and even today we pledge our full support for this noble cause, said Namdhari Saint Harpaldasji Maharaj, whose message was read out by his disciple Jagjitsinghji Maharaj. He said that we must enjoin cities in this noble mission along with the rural areas. He said that people should come forward to create awareness to save the cow because all good moral virtues are symbolized in the cow.

Bhante Gyanjagatji

Stressing that the culture of Bharat was based on cow, Bhante Gyanjagatji Maharaj said that in all the Buddhist countries of the world cow is a symbol of respect and honor. We need to protect the cow for better future, prosperity and peace in Bharat and the entire world, he said.

Message of Mata Amritanandmayee

In her message, which was read out by Pargyanand Puri, Mata Amritanandmayee described cow as ‘Kalpavriksha’. Not only the cow milk is compared with nectar, her urine and dung also carry immense medicinal values, she said, adding that the value of ‘panchgavya’ was best known to our ancestors. Agricultural development and cow protection are the two sides of the same coin, she said adding that if we wanted to save agriculture, we need to save the cow as our own mother.

Message of Sri Sri Ravishankarji Maharaj

The Vishwa Mangal Gau Gram Yatra is a commendable event and it aims at creating awareness about protection of cows and agriculture. The objectives of this event are not linked to any religion or sect or caste, said Sri Sri Ravishankarji Maharaj, who happens to be one of the promoters of this historic event. His message was read out by Naresh Patadia.

Earlier, Working President of the Yatra Dr H R Nagendra explained the details of the Yatra in his introductory remarks. He said that the Yatra which began from Kurukshetra on September 30, 2009, traversed the distance of more than 25,000 kms in 108 days in all parts of the country conveying the message of cow protection.

Saving cow was must for saving Bharat and its future, Dr Nagendra said. Saving the cow was a symbolic beginning of the process of stopping the brain drain from rural to urban areas.

Sri Shankarlalji said that besides the main yatra, 10, 000 upyatras were conducted in various parts of the country touching almost each and every village in Bharat. Along with the Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others also joined the movement in large numbers and exhibited their respect and honor for the cow. The signature campaign during the yatra was said to be the biggest one in the recent past.

The President of Vidarbha unit of Yatra Samiti, Balkrishna Bhartiya and Vinod Mohta honored and felicitated all the saints and dignitaries on the dais. The proceedings were compared by Hukumchand Sanwala while, Ajay Nildawar, Convenor of Vidarbha Prant Samiti, proposed vote of thanks.

During the program nearly 40 persons who had done commendable job in the field of cow protection, propagation of panchgavya-based medicines and developing organic farming were felicitated at the hands of the saints, acharyas and dignitaries. They included Dr Ramswarup Chauhan, Ravi and Ajit Kelkar, Popatrao Pawar, Manohar Parchure, Saishankar Barmudi, Suresh Waghdhare, Subhash Sharma, Bhavani Shankar Parashar, Dr Nandini Bhojraj, Kanubhai Sawdia, Dilip Singh Tomar, Mohan Shankar Deshpande, N A RAjhans, Dr Priti Joshi, Kalpanaben Patel, Lakshman Singhji, P K Ravindran, Dhirubhai Ramani, Ratanlal Khandelwal, and Uttarabai.

By Virag Pachpore in Nagpur

Expressing concern over the present plight of the cow he said it is very difficult to say that in this country of rishis and Goupal whether the ghee is pure or not. He said the fat of a cow or a pig is used in the ghee upto 60 per cent. He stressed the need to develop the workers who connect themselves with this land as true sons. Only then the cow would also be saved.

Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji said there are already three kinds of armies for external security of the country but for internal security the country needs the fourth army of cows.

When the Yatra reached Akola it was accorded warm reception. A procession began from Rajrajeshwari temple which was attended by the workers of Vitthal Raghumai Mandir, Adarsha Gousewa Prakalpa, Shri Gajanan Maharaj Mandir, Gayatri Parivar and Patanjali Yogapeeth, etc.

According to district convener Shri Hemant Thorat two upyatras were conducted in Akola which contacted in 175 villages. More than four lakh signatures were collected from the district. The most interesting part of the signature campaign was that all people of Telara and Akota village signed the memorandum. Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji was also handed over a list of 31,000 gourakshaks.

The meeting organised at Cricket Club Maidan was addressed by national secretary of the Yatra Samiti Shri Shankarlal, Shri Jananeshwar Maharaj, Shri Sanjay Maharaj, Shri Badatatya Karadkar Maharaj and others. A goubhakta Shri Atmaram Motiram Ingale was honoured at the meeting by presenting him a memento.

Referring to the solar eclipse that occurred today he said the country is in the grip of gouhatya graham (the eclipse of cow slaughter). He said after some time the solar eclipse was over by the eclipse of cow slaughter is still going on and the nation has yet to be freed from it. He said the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra is the real freedom struggle of the country and the slogan of it is –Vande Gou Mataram.

Describing the cow as mother of all mothers and gurus of all gurus, he said cow is the holiest creature in the world. The goumata shuns many doshas. Even the horoscope of the child who is born in doshakaal is corrected if he is passed beneath the cow stomach.

The welcome meeting organised at Keshav Gourakshan was addressed by Shri Baburao Maharaj Lanke, president of Keshav Gourakshan Shri Pundkar Maharaj, Shri Dabhade Maharaj and Shri Khade Maharaj. Shri Narayan Maharaj Shinde administered the oath of cow protection to the gathering.

According to district convener of the Yatra Shri Vikram Bavare two upyatras were conducted in the Vashim district which contacted in 475 villages. He said 1.5 lakh signatures were collected during the signature campaign, which were handed over to the saints.

A website on cow designed by Shri Sudhkar Chaudhary was also inaugurated by Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji.

Passing through various areas, the Yatra today reached Mangrulnath where a welcome meeting was organised at Keshav Gourakshan after the solar eclipse was over. The Yatra was extended warm welcome in the city.

Shri Joshi said earlier our farmers were self-depend but the so-called green revolution made them dependent on industries for everything including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. If we have to make our soil fertile again we should promote cow-based farming.

He said every house in the country should become a centre of goupalan and gouraksha. Every citizen should become a goubhakta and gourakshak. The goubhakta should not mean just a person worshiping the cow but he/she should use the products made of the cow provided material in practical life. It would establish the importance of the cow in practical life.

Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji called upon the goubhaktas to think whether the service we are rendering to the cow is sufficient and if not sufficient we all should first awaken ourselves and then awake others. If we failed to protect the cow today then there would be no need to protect her as the cow would no more then. It is the last yatra and the last opportunity we have, he said.

A grand procession was organised when the Yatra reached Yavatmal. The youth burst firecrackers and shouted slogans for cow protection. The people of the city showered flower petals.

The meeting organised at Azad Maidan was presided over by Mahant Shri Ramlakhan Das Maharaj who also administered the oath of cow protection to the audience. Shri Bhagwatacharya Ganesh Shastri, Shri Baburao Lanke Maharaj, Shri Dattabhau Kulkarni and national secretary of the Yatra Shri Shankar Lal also addressed the meeting.

The function began with a large procession which moved the whole city. The four upyatras also entered the city simultaneously from four sides which all culminated in a meeting at Azad Maidan.

According to Shri Jivan Ladhdhi, district convener of the Yatra, four upyatras were conducted in the district which contacted more than 300 villages. A total of 2.80 lakh signatures were collected from the district, which were handed over to the saints.

Prior to it, the Yatra reached Varoda and Vani where too public meetings were organised. Thousands of people pledged for cow protection. Villagers in large number showered flower petals from both sides of the road.

He said we all are equally responsible for the killing of the cow as she is sold to butchers by ourselves. He said the government would do nothing and it has to be forced to do something. Therefore, we all have to pressurese the government together.

Beginning from Bhandara and passing through Pavari, Brahmapur and Talaudhi the Yatra reached Chandrapur in the evening. It was accorded warm welcome in the town. The welcome meeting organised at Chandakulapuram Club Ground was addressed by Shri Bhagwatacharya Shri Manish Maharaj, chairman of Reception Committee Shri Kishan Chattha, Dr Sachidanand Munantivar and Shri Lakshmikant Pandey.

According to district convener of the Yatra Shri Vivek Ambekar three upyatras were taken out in the district which contacted 150 villages. A total of 3.5 lakh signatures were collected from the district and were handed over to Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji.

Prior to it, the Yatra was accorded warm welcome when it reached Pawari, Brahmpur and Talaudhi. The villagers showered flower petals and welcomed the Gourath with bands.

Gokarna Peethadhishwar Shankaracharya Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji said the cow should be allowed to live a natural life only then she can make our life happy.

National secretary of the Yatra Shri Shankar Lal spoke about the use of govansh in modern life. He said we can get rid of the power problem in the country if we properly use the bullock driven energy plants.

Beginning from Raipur in the morning and passing through Durga, Rajnandgaon and Devari the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra reached Bhandara of Maharashtra in the evening where people welcomed it by showering flower petals. Women welcomed it with puna kalash. The youth took out a vehicle rally and also burst firecrackers.

Prominent among those who also addressed the welcome meeting in Bhandara included Shri Narayan Maharaj Shinde, Shri Suryanath Naji Barahi Maharaj, Shri Rupchand Neekhade Maharaj, Shri Nemichand Doe, Shri Govardhan Maharaj, Shri Vijay Krishna Brahmachari Maharaj, etc.

Over two lakh signatures collected from Bhandara district were handed over to Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji. The goubhaktas pledged for cow protection at the function.

Shri Soni said there is a shift in our thinking and we have thought that the nature has been created by the god only for us and exploiting her is our right. We have forgotten that we too are part of this nature and if this nature gets ruined we too will not be saved.

Shri Soni described the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra as second battle of Independence. As charakha was a symbol in the first battle, the cow is a symbol in this battle.

Gokarna Peethadhishwar Shankaracharya Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji said the cow urine has the power to cure even the critical ailments of skin and bones. He said with the killing of a cow hardly 80 persons can eat her beef but if she survives more than 26,000 people are benefitted.

Beginning from Kavardha in Madhya Pradesh and passing through Mungeli, Bilaspur and Simoga the Yatra today entered Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. A procession was organised in the city to welcome the Yatra. Hundreds of organisations of the city welcomed the Yatra. Rashtriya Muslim Manch activists too welcomed the Yatra by showering flower petals.

Chhattisgharh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh performed gourath pujan at Banjareshwar Mahadev temple in the city.

The welcome meeting organised at Sapre Shala Maidan was addressed by Mahant Anusuyadas Maharaj of Amarkantak, Swami Vedprakash Maharaj, Shri Sarveshwar Nath Maharaj and national secretary of the Yatra Shri Shankar Lal.

According to Shri Harishbhai Joshi a total of 142 upyatras were conducted in Chhattisgarh which contacted in 14000 villages. More than 65 lakh signatures were collected in the Prant and were handed over to the saints.

Shri Dandapani stressed the need to enact a law which frees the gochar land encroached by land grabbers in villages where the cows can graze freely. He also said to set up at least one goushala in each village and every family of the village should help in that goushala.

Beginning from Jabalpur and passing through Mandala and Kabirdham the Yatra reached Kavardha in the evening where it was extended warm welcome by the people. Women welcomed the Rath with purna kalash.

The meeting organised at Gandhi Maidan was addressed by Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of RSS Shri Sitaram Kedilaya, national secretary Shri Meghraj Jain and Swami Shraddhanand Maharaj Kabirpanthi of Meghaghat. Swami Akhileshwaranad Giri administred the oath of cow protection to the goubhaktas.

Shri Pramod Lunia of Kavardha and Shri Shekhar Patel of Lohara were honoured at the function.