India is home to so many cultural values, we worship almost each and everything, be it plants, places, elements, or animals. Cow out of all the other things plays a very important role in our Hindu civilization. Cow dung and Gomutra (cow pee) were extremely important resources to our ancestors.
For our forefathers, cow dung was a significant source of fuel, a binding material for houses, a purifier, etc. In fact, our Vedas extensively discuss cow dung’s properties and recommend making heavy use of it. But unfortunately, over time, the usage of cows and their byproducts has been drastically reduced.
Many people are promoting the use of earth’s resources and emphasizing the advantages of leading sustainable lives for the benefit of both humans and the environment, but their count is really less.
One such hero promoting and living ‘natural life’ is P. Ganesan from Perungamanallur, Tamilnadu who is reintroducing the use of cow dung in homes, just like Farmer’s Share is teaching the children basic life skills through nature and a sustainable lifestyle
Cow Dung Made Into Art
P Ganesan and Saraswathi, an organic farmer couple from Perungamanallur in the Peraiyur Taluk in Madurai, could see the potential for reuse from the dung of the native cow species they raise on their farm.
P Ganesan is an engineering graduate but choose to practice organic farming as a profession. He cultivates guava, coconut, moringa & various native vegetable on his 9-acre land.
He owned cows and was utilizing the waste by-product of his native cows as fertilizer on his organic farm. But even after utilizing cow dung as fertilization on his organic farms. He still had a lot of leftover cow manure, but like all the others he was okay to let go of that waste in the dump yard.
But some years back due to a difficult crop in which he was obliged to sell 300 kg of produce for only 10 rupees in profit, he suffered a considerable loss. It was at this moment he decided to utilize the extra cow dung for better profitable use and started creating cow dung art.
“I finally started utilising the cow dung as well as its pee to create artefacts four years ago, the natives used cow dung as a layer to paint their house, it purified the space. Why stop using such a medicinal product.”
Toying with the raw materials allowed him to flesh out pen & fruit stands, kumkum jars, wall hangings, necklaces with beads, lanterns, plaques with elaborately carved Swastik and Om signs, portraits of Gods and Goddesses, and many other items.
He tested the impacts of time, place, and seasonal change on his artifacts, & with time he improved his grasp of cow dung as a raw material. Mr. Ganesan concluded cow dung art pieces can be perfectly made in all seasons, except for the monsoon season.
“Humid circumstances favour the development of worms in the excrement and can result in breaking of the piece. Other than that this product can withstand most seasonal challenges.”
U.S.P. Of Cow Dung Arts
All the products are made using only cow dung and cow urine which too only of the native cows of the area. He shared with the team of Mad4India that his cows are local breeds that are fed just grass and given free rein of the land to graze on, which affects the dung’s cleanliness and quality.
He works tirelessly in creating such perfect artifacts which look machine-made but are absolutely handmade. He only uses needles and knives to shape the items.
Since I don’t have a moulding to use for mass production, I handcraft each inch of my artwork.
He claimed that he doesn’t do anything to remove the overpowering stench of cow dung that permeates the artifacts. He added that using cow dung to keep homes safe and free of illnesses is an old tradition and that his skill was a step toward bringing it back.
Cow dung has therapeutic components, rich in beneficial microbes. It served as a method of fusing ancient principles with modern aesthetics.
On The Road To Growth
As soon as the news went out, he began to receive special requests even from beyond the State. He claimed that Vinayagar sculptures and nameplates are the most in-demand items. The artist’s largest creation to date is a six-foot-tall Buddha statue constructed from 30 kg of cow dung.
His skills and initiatives are beyond impressive. It has been more than 4 years since the artist is creating marvels of cow dung. Buddha’s face with distinct features, a Hindu temple pyramid, ducks floating on a wall hanging, an enormous hand with thumb and fingers clasped together, Hindu religious emblems like Om and there is so much more created by him. You can explore all his collections by contacting him on his number.
India used to have a lot of residences with cow shelters. To prevent germs, people would spread a coating of cow dung at their front door. Even if these customs are now less common, P. Ganesan believed that products manufactured from cow dung may at least be appreciated as interior decoration.
He now produces more than 100 different types of cow dung artifacts. He is completing personal orders from various regions of Tamil Nadu and gradually will do the same for the whole country.
Evolve naturally and give your home a touch of nature. Handcrafts are aesthetic beyond measures and a blend of nature and aesthetic art would just add glam to your sustainable life. Our suggestion – give it a try.
If you like this story, please read the motivation story – Inspiring Story Of Kapil Surana, Founder Of India’s Finest Organic Farm, Surana Organic Farm.
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