Introduction!

In ancient India, oxen and bulls were sacrificed to the gods and their meat was eaten. But even then the slaughter of milk-producing cows was prohibited. Verses of the Rigveda refer to the cow as Devi (goddess), identified with Aditi (mother of the gods) herself.

The cow remains a protected animal in Hinduism today and Hindus do not eat beef. Most rural Indian families have at least one dairy cow, a gentle spirit who is often treated as a member of the family.

Despite their sacred status, cows don't seem very appreciated in India. Visitors are often surprised to see them walking neglected around city streets, living on garbage from the gutters. But the cow is honored at least once a year, on Gopastami. On this "Cow Holiday," cows are washed and decorated in the temple and given offerings in the hope that her gifts of life will continue.

http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/things/cow.htm


This is where we are today. In the streets of India hundreds of stray cattle roam and survive, living off garbage, gardens or even market vegetation. Some were once family owned but escaped, some were born on the streets. But they all have one thing in common, the basic instinct to survive.

Welcome to Street Gods.