Cow belt

The Cow Belt is a cultural region of India that extends over the Hindi-speaking states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh.[1] The name comes from the high reverence given to cows, who are considered sacred in Hindu religion.

Cultural and political dominance

Cow belt refers to the most of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that consists of the vast Ganges plain, an area of flatness, which often floods dramatically during the monsoon. These states have been most dominant states in Indian politics and culture since independence. This is partly because these are also the most populous states of the country and partly because the region plays a central role in the religious landscape of the Hindus.[2]

The Ganges River which forms the backbone of the state, is the sacred river of Hinduism and two of Hinduism's most holy towns are in the state, namely Varanasi and Prayagraj, which is also one of the venues of the Kumbh Mela. [3]

See also

References
  1. Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry, eds. (5 February 2013). The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (Dictionary of Slang and Unconvetional English) (2nd ed.). Routledge. p. 559. ISBN 978-0415619493. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. India by Sarina Singh
  3. "Caste and politics mix in India's Hindu "cow belt"". Reuters. 24 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008.
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