A striking feature of India is the prevalence of cows in all the cities and the tolerance and respect with which they are treated. This film traces the origin of the sacred cow concept showing how it is supported, not only by religion but by the practical value of cattle and their products. The story leads the viewer through scenes of bull wrestling in the South, the colourful rural Vishnoi people of Rajasthan, the giant cattle fair of Brahmin priests and the the Hari Krishna cult, and the elevation of cows to divine status.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
324803
Language
English
Subject categories
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → India - Social life and customs
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Travel
Documentary → Documentary films - India
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Hinduism
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)