MILK............

MILK ………..

Probably most of our days start with the very first activity of cutting open a pouch or sachet of milk and then setting it to boil. This is followed by the preparation of a sweet, strong coffee or tea to set the mood for the day right! Like it or not milk has been associated with our live from a long time. Whether one is vegetarian, non-vegetarian or vegan…lacto or what not…. everyone needs the morning shot to set the tune right!

In India mostly everyone depends on pasteurized milk and packed in sachet of polythene ( LDPE) to start their day! This milk is Toned milk with 3% fat and 8.5% Solids non fat. People who are health conscious go for low or no fat skimmed milk. Others who have large families and want to set good curd or want their coffee / tea to be thick with rich body want to use full cream milk!

There used to be days when buffaloes used to be brought right in front of the house in Chennai. A decoy calf used to be carried by the cattle owner on his shoulder. The decoy used to be made with the skin of a calf generally male calf and stuffed with straw or some lighter material. The dummy calf used to be placed in front of the buffalo and salt water would be sprinkled on its skin. The mother buffalo would start licking the calf. It would be thinking that it is in the company of its calf and it would be milked by the Sheppard fully.

The buyer of the milk would think that he is getting a great deal as he is getting fresh unadulterated milk, but he would not know that the milkman who had brought water in the pretext of washing udder of the buffalo had passed more than 50% the same to the milking pail !

In other parts of India people visited “ Thapela” cattle sheds to collect fresh milk.

Milk is given by the cow to feed its calf. But mankind has created “milk replacer “which is much cheaper than fresh milk and started feeding the calf with the same. Even in developing countries calves especially the male ones are sent to slaughter houses giving much trauma and shock to the cow.  In theory “Surplus Milk” which after feeding the calf should come to our dining table. But in actual practice what is looted from the rightful share of the calf reaches our dining table!

When a baby is to be weaned from his / her mother in about six or seven months of age the first and probably the best alternative for him / her is cow’s milk. This Milk sustains the growth of the baby till he / she graduates to solid food and supplements the solid food when he / starts growing.

When a boy gets married under Hindu tradition the couple is fed milk and fruit as welcome gesture by the bride’s mother when they step in as couple in her home.  Milk which indicates the well being and surplus nature of economy is used ceremoniously to wash the groom’s feet! On the first night the bride enters the chamber of bride groom with a special vessel containing milk and offers the same to the groom before the consummation of marriage!

In rich households in Northern belt of India-in states like, Punjab. Haryana and UP it is common to find people indulging in hot Milk with dry fruit in night which helps in the consumer to have good sleep. Milk also acts as a convalescent food when one becomes sick.

In Southern India, when someone dies after the mortal remains are offered to flame for cremation. The next day milk is taken to the cremation ground and bones are collected in that vessel. In certain communities of South India when a lady becomes vidow because of the death of the demise of her spouse, she would remove her manalsutra on the thirteenth day. The mangal sutra would be on removal immediately dipped and left in Milk !!

Thus Milk from our birth to death has become an integral part and parcel of our life!!