Sacred Cows

It takes special skill to drive in India. Vehicles of every sort speed madly around. Autorickshaws, small cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycle rickshaws, and even hapless pedestrians compete for space on the roads. And in the midst of all this frenetic activity you see a cow or two serenely standing or walking in the midst of it all.

Animals are sacred in India, but the cow stands supreme among all others. Beef, of course, is not eaten by devout Hindus who are vegetarians, but cow’s milk continues to be an important part of people’s diets, providing needed protein and calcium. When cows get old and no longer provide milk, owners simply turn them loose. To have a cow die on your property, in your care, is to incur serious religious obligations, including penitential pilgrimages all over the country, and an obligation to feed the local priests for a year. Such cows are not left to fend entirely for themselves, however. The first chapatti of the day in village households is always set out for the cows. People continue to watch out for and care for wandering cows which may be hungry.

Why cows seem to cluster around intersections is a bit of a mystery. They certainly slow traffic down.  One theory is that the congestion of gasoline and diesel exhaust fumes at intersections deters flies, making these particularly cow-friendly gathering places. That may be altogether too ingenious a theory, but it is certain that given the love and respect people pay them, these creatures will never be cowed. (Sorry. Couldn't resist milking it for all it's worth.)