Strange is the tradition in Chaura village near Jamshedpur where cows are reared but milking is forbidden

Seraikela, Dec 18: The tradition of rearing cows in every household of Chaura village in Gamharia block but not being allowed to milk them is many generations old and is being devoutly followed by the Gen X. This facet is a case in point to include Chaura village as the ‘eighth wonder of the world.’

However, in today’s scientific and hi-tech era, this traditional practice tends to be judged as orthodox thinking that has created a mental deadlock in a manner that even the current generation adheres to this stricture.

Elderly villager Konaram Majhi recalling the past, narrated, “This is the fifth generation following this stricture of rearing cows in every household but not milking them. There used to be a large number of cattle herders in the Chaura. And cow milk was produced in excessive quantity. At that time, after selling and using cow milk, the cattle rearing families used to keep the surplus in clay pitchers. It is believed that a pair of large cats used to visit our village at night and drink the stored milk that resulted in panic. Panicky and worried over the loss of stored milk, the villagers ultimately trapped the cat pair and killed them. Despite this, the process of loss due to the extraction of cow’s milk continues.”

Extracting cow milk in Chaura

Villagers said that if the cow milk is extracted and used, the milk turns yellow after a fgew days of storage or the cows die. Under such circumstances, even if there is a need for milk for any occasion including giving it to a child or sick person, villagers buy milk from elsewhere although there is a cow in the house.

A story:-

In the year 2005-06, in view of the ideal conditions of cow rearing and milk production in the village, the government, after conducting a survey, cows were offered to the Chaura villagers at subsidized rates along with various facilities for rearing them. In spite of refusal of the villagers to accept the cows, Vikal Hansda of the village purchased a Jersey cow at Rs 36,000.  He milked the cow and continued to do so even after a calf was born and put the milk to use. Vikal did not follow the traditional practice. Strangely the Jersey cow died after a month in spite of medication.

What Chaura villagers say

Konaram Majhi:  This belief and tradition are being practiced through ancient times. Cows are being reared in almost all the households. Cow milk can only be consumed by calves. In case of bull calves, they are used by farmers for agriculture purposes.  The cow is reared with traditional respect.

Vikal Hansda: I had purchased a Jersey cow against the prevailing tradition on cow rearing in the village. But according to belief, after a month of extracting and using the cow’s milk, the Jersey cow died. However, the cause of death of the cow could not be ascertained although medication was provided to her.

Seenu Hansda: The tradition of cow rearing in the village has been there since ancient times. But according to popular belief, cow’s milk is not extracted. In case of need of cow’s milk it is bought from outside the village and used.

Shambhu Mandal, social worker: There has been a tradition of cow rearing in Chaura. But according to popular belief, it is forbidden to extract milk from a reared cow. Cow’s milk is used only by its calves. Considering this belief and tradition, the younger generation too follows the prevailing rule.