# @austinhealyaries on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CsNlCi8O8fS
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35267249-austinhealyaries-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a9d94bd26b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-05-14T05:40:36.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Daniel Healy (@austinhealyaries) — https://gondola.cc/austinhealyaries

## Caption

Hanging out with this sweet “street cow.” An interesting fact of Rishikesh is that being a holy land and an important pilgrimage center in India, it has completely banned alcohol and non-vegetarian food. Even cafes and restaurants don’t serve non-vegetarian foods or alcohol. 

The cow is a holy animal for Hindus. Unfortunately, many are abandoned once they stop producing milk as the families can no longer afford to keep them. These cows then roam free on the streets, adapting and coexisting with us humans quite well, all things considered. They remain rather docile and calm amidst all the traffic and noise and always love a nice watermelon rind snack and a good head rub. 

It’s really sad what we justify doing to these creatures in most places, especially in the US. It’s really been nice to be somewhere that respects them and shows them some compassion. Energetically and spiritually it just feels so good to treat other living beings the way we’d want to be treated if the roles were reversed. Veganism isn’t a dietary choice, it’s a philosophical lifestyle choice to lead with compassion and live in harmony with all of nature and its creatures. 
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#rishikesh #india #cows #cowsmakemehappy #compassion #veganlife #vegan #veganism #friendsnotfood #leadwithlove #leadwithkindness #leadwithcompassion #liveinharmony

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 641
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- **Comments:** 23

## Tags

cowsmakemehappy, leadwithlove, compassion, veganlife, vegan, veganism, leadwithkindness, liveinharmony, india, rishikesh, cows, leadwithcompassion, friendsnotfood

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