World’s first Vegan Ayambil festival (Chaitra Oli) took place at the Oshwal Centre in Potters Bar, London. Though, those observing the Oli do not consume any dairy products, the organisers and volunteers who provide all the backup services would normally consume some dairy products through sweet meats and tea had observed a complete abstinence from dairy products.
The fact that a lot of cruelty is involved in milk production is not that well publicised within the Jain community. Jain Vegans have been making an effort within the community to highlight the facts of this cruelty. This year they sponsored the Oli festival to emphasise these facts to the wider community.
The cows are artificially impregnated and the calf is separated from the mother immediately after birth. This causes immense suffering to the mother. The cow is given hormones to produce more milk causing the udder to swell beyond natural capacity. The cow also suffers from Mastisis and many other ailments. After giving three births the cow is worn out and slaughtered for pet food.If a male calf is born it is killed immediately or raised for veal or beef.
This hinsa is a much worse form of cruelty than avoiding root vegetables, a ritual which devout Jains avidly follow. Whilst we may find it difficult to avoid dairy products in our homes, we should avoid use of dairy products when celebrating our religious festivals. Jain Vegans have in their own modest way shown us the way. Let us at least commit to restricting the use of dairy products when celebrating religious festivals and reduce the hinsa we are incurring.
It should be our long term objective to first reduce consumption of dairy products and eventually to eliminate it completly. Should anyone want more information about the cruelty being carried out please contact
Should anyone want more information about the cruelty being carried out please visit:
Jain Vegans: www.JainVegans.org
The Vegan Society: www.VeganSociety.com
or contact:
The Jain Vegans Team at JainVegansTeam@JainVegans.org
or
Nitin Mehta MBE at animalahimsa@yahoo.co.uk