Straw to feed cows in Swargadwari brought all the way from Deukhuri

By Diwakar Pokhrel, Deukhuri, Nov.21:Cows of Swargadwari temple depends on the hay and straw brought all the way from Dang. Even though the temple owns some 1,100 square metres of land but it depends upon the straw brought from Dang to rear cows in the temple.

 Local traders and local residents have been donating straws to feed the cows of Swargadwari temple every year. Some 1,400 tractors of straw are required every year to feed the cattle in the temple. Swargadwari temple is a famous holy shrine in Lumbini Province where cows are fed five quintals of grain daily. 

These cows have been reared since the establishment of the temple. 

About 1,100 square metres of land in Dang is owned by Swargadwari temple, however, no earning is made from it. As a result, the temple has to rely on donations to feed nearly 400 cows reared in the hermitage. 

Kamal Jung Singh Thakuri, President of Deukhuri Federation of Industry and Trade, informed that some 24 tractors of straw were donated this year.

Cow dung here is used as fertiliser, while milk is consumed as Panchamrit. 

Cows have been reared here as it is mandatory for the offerings 'Akhanda Yagya'. Before the commencement of the armed conflict, the temple used to collect grass, hey and straw from its own land. 

However, after the conflict, the land that belonged to Swargadwari was encroached, as a result rearing cows in the temple started being difficult. 

Priest, Tamu Prasad Neupane said, "No income is generated from the land that belongs to the temple. We have raised cows collecting donations," he added. He also said they were continuously asking for donations from several places. 

Jograj Chaudhary, Mayor of Lamahi Municipality, said that long-term plan is necessary for the continuation of the religious offerings, and the assistance of government is must to sustain rearing cows in the temple.