Calcutta’s Confused Cattle
India has more to offer the world than curry. While this may seem like an obvious statement, it’s important to remember that cultural stereotypes – especially those perpetuated by the mainstream media – should be immediately disregarded when visiting a country. Apart from anything, it is far too easy to spot established patterns and ignore the other cultural idiosyncrasies which may be far more interesting. I like to think of it as cultural lock picking - somehow navigating around the barriers and obstacles in order to enjoy a nation (and its population) for what they are rather than what Apu represents on the Simpsons. What struck me when I visited India was the sheer number of cattle wandering the streets. In England, cattle are only ever kept as livestock or occasionally domestic pets. They live in rural areas almost exclusively, penned in by hedges and fences to prevent them becoming a nuisance to traffic. In India there are no such systems in place. The cattle wander the streets, taking priority over motorised vehicles and occasionally holding up dual carriageways for hours while patient drivers queue behind. People give the cattle gifts and offerings – the animals are very sacred in Indian culture, especially Hindu communities – including chains of bright flowers and fresh grass from the parks. Not only is the generosity towards cattle peculiar in a nation where poverty is rife, but also strangely touching. It strikes an Englishman as odd that these slow, friendly animals are held in such high esteem in a largely vegetarian country.
Similar Posts:
Working at Home is Awesome : Working from home is absolutely…
An authentic Scottish Burns Night : I was lucky enough to be in…
Skiing Holidays are Great, But They’ll Cost You : Ever since we…
Took my new ride for a drive into Scotland. : The larger and…
Comments are closed!