A cow born with ‘human features’ in India has been worshipped by villagers who believe it is an avatar of a Hindu God.
The calf was born with eyes, nose and ears resembling those of a human in an animal shelter in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, northern India.
Sadly, it died within an hour of its birth on Thursday – but locals from nearby villages still gathered to seek its blessing, believing it to be an avatar of Hindu God Lord Vishnu.
Video footage shows people offering flowers and bowing before the dead calf, which has been kept inside a glass box since it died. Now, locals plan to build a temple for the animal.
Mahesh Kathuria, 50, a local businessman, said:
“God has taken birth from the body of a local cow. We came here to seek his blessings. Religiously, it is an avatar of Vishnu.
“We believe it’s a similar character mentioned in Bhagavata Puran, a Hindu religious text.”
Raja Bhaiya Mishra, 55, the manager of the cow shelter, added:
“It’s a miracle that the calf was born in this shelter. Thousands of people have been here to see it. We will be cremating him in three days and a temple will be built for him. This avatar has most definitely created a devotion feeling amongst the people.”
He explained the mother was rescued from a butcher and brought to the shelter six months ago.
However, animal health experts have rubbished any superstitions surrounding the calf.
