A video of people throwing cow dung cakes at each other in India’s Andhra Pradesh during the Ugadi celebrations has gone viral on social media on Thursday.
The huge crowd of people, standing shoulder-to-should in a massive breach of COVID-19 SOPs were seen throwing cow dung cakes on each other in a viral video. The bizarre celebration coincided in India when the country is grappling with an exponential surge in the COVID-19 cases with several major cities of India including Mumbai and New Delhi shifting to limited hours of curfew in the day.
Further investigation revealed that it is a tradition in the Kurnool’s district Kairuppala village to form teams and throw cow dung cakes on each other during the Ugadi celebrations.
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— Masrat Zahra (@Masratzahra) April 16, 2021
People vigorously participated in the event yet flouting all the restrictions of COVID-19. Ugadi celebrations mark the beginning of the New Year for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Read more: Cow urine for sale in India for coronavirus cure
However, this is not the first time Indians have shown their bizarre attachment to cow wastes. Theories on the health benefits of cow urine and dung gained popularity in India during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic last year. These theories, however, were believed by many without any scientific backing.
Several traditional healers in India claimed the efficacy of cow urine in treating coronavirus. The sale of cow urine spiked last year after some people claimed that it has a coronavirus cure.
Citizens increased the consumption of cow urine believing that it can cure coronavirus. Thousands of liters of cow urine were consumed daily in Indian Gujrat.
Vallabh Kathiria, Chairman of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog, explained to media teams that the sale of cow urine had spiked up to 6000 liters a day with people preferring to consume it in a liquid or condensed form.
Kathiria, further informed that not only cow waste is consumed orally but is also used to produce body sprays and sanitizers that are believed to keep the harmful microbes away.
Kathiria of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog said, “There are about 4,000 gaushalas in the state, of which around 500 are involved in collecting and processing cow urine.”
Meanwhile in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh https://t.co/Ez69IjGlPB
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) April 15, 2021
Earlier, a BJP activist was arrested for arranging a cow urine drinking event. It was touted as an effective cure and prevention from coronavirus. The arrest came after a volunteer fell sick following its consumption.
Read more: Here is everything you need to know about Hindu beliefs on cow dung, urine
According to police officials, 40-year-old Narayan Chatterjee, a local party worker in Kolkata had organized a cow worship program at a cowshed. Chatterjee distributed urine among people, calling it ‘miraculous’.