Call it ignorance or just plain insensitivity, but there’s something deeply wrong when a supermarket’s Deepavali promotion specially offers massive discounts when purchasing beef. You know, because Hindus revere cows — and having a special offer on the meat of a venerated animal just pisses on their beliefs.
Mumbrella spotted the tweet by Adam Flinter yesterday about Cold Storage doing exactly that, though it’s unclear exactly which outlet it was.
We’ve contacted Cold Storage about the questionable Deepavali promotion and await their comments.
But! Are Hindus really forbidden to eat the meat of cows? It’s an unfortunately common misconception that Hindus worship cows, because they don’t. Cows are revered (as opposed to sacred) as a source of food and a symbol of life — the belief stems from a practical agrarian standpoint. Oxen and cattle are important livestock in agricultural society and provide useful resources like milk, butter and dung (for manure and fuel). In the spiritual aspect, Vedic texts conflict in the context of the outright prohibition of eating beef, but many agree with the interpretation that there is no sin in eating meat, though abstention provides greater rewards.
In other words, Hindus can eat beef (and some do) — but most avoid doing so out of respect.
Still, it’s pretty rude to offer a big discount on beef as part of a festive promotion meant for Hindus.
