Nirmal: In a rare instance of acknowledging the role of cattle in his growth and its bonding with the family, a farmer on Wednesday performed all the rituals of a funeral after his ox died at Wanalpahad village in Bhainsa mandal in Nirmal district.
Mankur Ramkumar performed the rituals following Hindu customs and then carried the carcass in his cart and buried it in his agriculture field. His gesture surprised and impressed many when he explained the animal’s contribution to his growth.
“It was born to a cow raised by our family 21 years ago. We named it after Basavanna and Nandi. The bullock had been helping us in agriculture operations since then. It was an important member of the family. It used to identify my parents and me, and even respond to our orders. It was a loyal and hardworking ox,” Ramkumar told ‘Telangana Today’.
Village sarpanch Rajanna said the farmer had set an example to others by performing final rites for the bullock. “Farmers often sell ageing cattle to slaughterhouses, but Ramkumar has given a befitting adieu to the animal by recognising its role in his growth,” he remarked.
On January 15 last, Bhuneni Raju and his family members performed the funeral of their pet dog, which they had reared for over six years, at Naikapuguda village in Kasipet mandal of Mancherial district.
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