"Why cows are wandering around? I mean, gotta have some good steak!" asked by 'X' to a post of mine on r/askreddit "What is the question about India, that you never got a satisfactory answer to?"
me: You won't find cows roaming around everywhere, that's a stereotype. Only poor milkmen who can't afford to feed the cow let them free. Or some are for holy reasons. They are also like a family member. Just like dogs or cats in other cultures. Cows are sacred here. People pray to a cow. People feed it for blessings. If you go to Mumbai, you will find a cow with a person, and the person has got some cow food, he will charge you to feed the cow! Believe it or not. We are a dairy country. Google and see how many things we make out of milk. Milk and milk products are an integral part of the day. Cow dung and cow urine is also made use of. No steak! You will be frowned upon if you ask someone. Beef is banned in many states. The beef you will find if you do will be of Buffalo, not Cow.
X: Thank you for letting me know all of these things! The info I had was from my father who went there briefly as a soldier during WW2. I don’t know the exact thing(s) he saw but his impression was that there were cows wandering the streets but the people refused to eat them. Many appeared to be starving despite this. This a good example of a lack of understanding amongst people from different cultures!
Me: It's my pleasure to have given a perspective of a native. We would love to have you and your family come to stay in India and enjoy our culture! There is lot of diversity. Foreign tourists usually go to Agra, Rajasthan and Goa but there are much more, completely different worlds from state to state. Take a guess, we have 122 major languages and about 1600 dialects tourists. Even with all that diversity, Everyone loves cows and Milk! You will also get Milk and milk products of other animals too eg. Goat, Camel even Donkey. And all fresh! Not really used to Tetra packs with high shelf life. lol if funny to say that.. Do come you will be greeted warmly with open arms! Cheers. DM me when you come. Welcome to my home.
X: Thank you! You’ve warmed my heart! I don’t have the finances for overseas travel now, but I will in the future! My father brought a silver necklace with a pendant of Harihara back for his sister and they are all deceased but rest assured it’s well taken care of by me.
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