We are all familiar with the ubiquitous presence of cows in the streets of India.

Here are a couple of interesting facts about the sacred cows of India:

Factoid #1: Did you know that the cows are considered a source of life not only for the milk they provide, but also for their dung, which is used as fuel? Cow dung is gathered up, flattened into large pancakes and dried in the sun. Large piles of dried cow dung pancakes can be seen along the roads. By the way, dried cow dung does not smell!

Factoid #2: Do not be surprised if you see people selling loose grass in the markets of India. People buy a handful of grass merely to turn around and feed it to the nearby cows as a matter of tradition and reverence. This practice happens not only in villages but also in the heart of large cities such as Mumbai. The fact that the cows of India don’t even have to work to eat helps explain why the cows seem so well fed and why they have plenty of spare time to roam the busy roads of India.