Eid-ul-Azha is knocking at the door. Having bought their sacrificial animals, many families in the capital are preparing for the main Eid celebrations, and much of that effort goes into keeping the animals. Garages, open spaces and even narrow lanes in front of many multi-storey buildings in Dhaka have turned into temporary cowsheds. In some places cows are tied where cars used to park; elsewhere temporary sheds of bamboo and tarpaulin have been put up in front of homes.

The presence of cows on the concrete ground floors of modern buildings seems to have brought a rural air back into the city's mechanical life. Children laughing in front of cows tied in garages, families busy, preparations for Eid: together they have made the festive energy of Qurbani clear in city life.

A tour of Rampura, Banasree and Khilgaon on Wednesday 27 May found fewer cars on building ground floors, their place taken by cows. From morning to night residents were feeding the cows straw, bathing them or taking photos to send to relatives. The children's joy was striking.

Amid the joy, residents also mentioned some inconvenience. In many places there are complaints about cattle waste and smell, and parking shortages have arisen in some. Still, most residents say these temporary problems are acceptable for a once-a-year festival.

Businessman Md. Arafat Dewan has kept two cows in the garage of a building in Banasree A Block. He told Jago News that the children have been very happy since the cows were brought from the market. "The car has to be kept outside, but at Eid no one is annoyed about that. Instead, we are all looking after the cows together."

He said the arrangement was made after talking with the building's residents. Several people share the work of feeding the cows and cleaning up every morning.

Several cows were seen in the garage of another building in Banasree A Block, where salaried worker Nasir Uddin told Jago News that the cars had been moved out of the garage to keep the cows. "Everyone in the building decided together, because most families are sacrificing. Even if it is a little inconvenient for these few days, everyone is adjusting for the festival."

"Cows lowing at night, then children making a racket in the morning, the whole atmosphere has changed," Nasir Uddin said. "It feels as if a kind of rural atmosphere has been created in the middle of the city. The smell of cow dung is unpleasant at times, but there is nothing to be done; everyone is accepting this temporary discomfort."

Pias Talukder, a resident of Taltola in Khilgaon, said: "We are sacrificing a cow and a goat. Many in the building have bought cows for the sacrifice. A small temporary shed has been built in front of the house with bamboo and tarpaulin. The cow stays there during the day and in the garage at night."

"We used to sacrifice at our village home; now we have to do it in Dhaka," he said. "So even if it is hard for a few days, we have to make arrangements for keeping the cow. The children also get to spend time with the cow."

Shefali Akter, a housewife in the same area, said: "From morning I have to manage straw, bran and water for the cow. With the cow downstairs there is a bit of a smell, but it has created an Eid atmosphere. As a child I saw such scenes at our village home, and now I get some of that feeling in Dhaka too."

Rubel Hossain, another Khilgaon resident, said: "Cows are everywhere in the area now. Walk down the street and you hear cows lowing. Children are taking pictures, some are feeding them. These scenes create a special Eid joy."

He said most people have tied their sacrificial cows in their building garages, while some have made arrangements in front of their homes with bamboo and tarpaulin. Young and old alike are enjoying the cows and waiting for Eid day.

Md. Nuruddin, a resident of Jamtala in Rampura, said the biggest building in the area is Shapla Tower. As construction is not yet finished, many people in the area have bought sacrificial cows and kept them in its garage.

Mohiuddin, a resident of the same area, said: "There are cars in our building's garage. In other years we moved the cars out and kept the cows in the garage. This year we kept them in the Shapla Tower garage. Many like me have kept cows there, which has eased our trouble somewhat this time."

He said everyone is on alert because of the risk of theft or snatching of cattle before Eid, and some young men in the area have organised night-time guards.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.