The earthy smell of cowdung mingled with the fresh scent of grass at Viknesh Dairy Farm in Lim Chu Kang Road on Thursday morning, as the premises buzzed with early morning activity while workers prepared for the transportation of sacred cattle to Little India.
“All of them have been trained to step into the truck since the age of maybe a few months,” said farm owner Govindasamy Subramaniam, 74.
Farm hands readied five animals – one bull, two cows and two calves – for their journey. Three vehicles had been arranged for the transportation: two for the animals and one for additional supplies.
The destination: Hastings Road in Little India, where the cattle will take centrestage amid Pongal celebrations.
They will remain in Little India, behind barricades, from Jan 10 to 17 for public viewing.
Pongal, a Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils, spans four days and serves as a thanksgiving to the sun god for providing a bountiful harvest.
The second day of the festival, known as Mattu Pongal, is meant for the celebration of cattle, and it is when cows are honoured and worshipped. These animals are integral to the farming community, providing milk, helping in agricultural activities and holding deep cultural significance.
As the trucks arrived in Hastings Road, a crowd of onlookers gathered to witness the sacred animals’ arrival.
The cattle demonstrated remarkable composure as they descended from the vehicles one by one, their hooves making gentle contact with the ground. Without any fuss, they sauntered to their designated enclosure behind the barricades.
“There will be barricades placed so that people do not touch the cattle,” said Mr Subramaniam, who added that the cows will be supervised by a staff member of the farm throughout their stay in Little India.
“It’s a blessing to bring them here and be a part of the Pongal celebrations,” he said. “Especially in a country that’s modernised, industrialised and where a lot of farms are extinct.
“It’s a great service for the Hindu community, and also for the other religions to get to know about Hindu customs, and why they give a lot of importance to cattle.”
While direct interaction is restricted, visitors can still participate in various cultural activities organised by the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association at various locations, including traditional games and demonstrations of Pongal preparation.
Mr Subramaniam’s son Viknesh, 26, who has been handling cattle since he was eight years old, shared insights about their farm operations.
“I started handling cattle at a very young age for Pongal and even for Deepavali. This tradition has been ongoing for almost two decades, with the farm bringing cattle to Little India, even before the Indian Heritage Centre was built,” he said.
“We are the only cow farm in Singapore rooted in religious purposes – and giving our products for religious reasons.
“We live with the cows every day, we see them every day. And most of the time, we also sleep next to them in the shed.”
Dayamayee Baskaran
“We live with the cows every day, we see them every day. And most of the time, we also sleep next to them in the shed.”