Gomatha Illam

Gomatha Illam

Can you imagine a shed full of cattle, cows and buffaloes, being tended and bred at the heart of the metro Chennai? Yes, the couple Ramu and Bala does it at Mylapore, Chennai at Veerabadran Lane.

Gomatha in Tamil means, ‘Cow, the Mother’ and it is sacred for Hindus. In Gomatha Illam of Ramus there are 20 cows and 15 buffaloes. Breeding these animals is the family tradition of Ramus and they live upto that till date.

Smt. Bala, lady just–above-middle age, looks very pious and soft spoken with very tender, affectionate expression in her eyes as she takes care of all the cattle as her own children.

The couple with their only son runs the entire show. They supply around 75 litres of milk per day, morning and evening to Hotel Saravana Bhavan in North Mada Street, Mylapore and to Grand Snacks in Gandhi Nagar, Adyar on week ends.

This is their family business for generations, says Smt. Bala and hence they want to continue despite the hardships. They don’t realize much profit because the cattle feed and straw prices have gone up many folds. Also they do not have much human assistance to take care of 35 cattle in one place.

We visited them on the day of Mattuppongal, the day next to Pongal, when people show their gratitude to the cattle for providing them milk throughout the year. Previously it was the tradition to take the cattle out, decked up, for a walk on Mattuppongal day and people at their doorstep used to take harathi and offer fruits to the cow and thamboolam to the owner. These things have disappeared now and the puja is being performed indoors only.

I wish the couple a happy and prosperous New Year (Ugadi)