The cow is a holy animal for Hindus, with
religious zealots ready to take on anyone
harming the divine creature. But the growing
number of stray cows is proving to be a bane
for both Indians and their bovine gods.
For many Hindus, who make up nearly 80
percent of India's 1.3 billion strong population,
the cow is a sacred animal. In Hindu
mythology, the animal is depicted as
accompanying several gods, like Shiva, who
rides on his bull Nandi, or Krishna, the cowherd
god.