Leather Products in India

lmanley9330

I will be traveling throughout India in Dec and Jan and am concerned with offending anyone by carrying leather items made of cowhide. Common sense tells me that if cows are sacred that I should not take along such items. The problem is leather is used to manufacture so many US products that it would be quite costly to replace, shoes, purse, wallets, belts etc; Does anyone have any input on this?

Kangaroo1

Mickey S

India has its own booming leather industry, and leather goods appear to be as popular there as they are in the west. I don't think you have any need to worry. (But this is an outsider's viewpoint - perhaps some Indian members could clarify).

But please, don't buy leather goods in India. The animals from which the leather is obtained are treated very cruelly.

http://www.petaindia.com/feat/f-leathertrade.asp

capt_mahajan

You won't offend anybody. You don't have to advertise that it is cowhide, either . Leather is commonly used for the same things in India that it is used in the US, though I don't know how much is cowhide

Some old orthodox temples may not allow any leather inside the premises. This was the case many years ago; I don't know if it is still true today.

PeakXV

<Crossposted with Captn> No - this is not an issue at all. Foreigner's shoes, wallets, purses, brief cases etc. are often made of cowhide and as long as the material is not purposely flaunted in some unusal way as being up of such leather - then you're good to go! In fact I'm quite sure that there is, to some degree, a small industry for cowhide products in India - made from the hides of certain deceased cows. Perhaps somebody in that industry could clarify this?

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Valini

When I was in Kanpur I had the opportunity to visit a few tanneries ( of which there are many, Kanpur is one of the biggest leather producers) The most of which were run by Muslims, and so of course be it cow or not, they really didn't care! I believe a large amount was buffalo too, but not sure. In any case, people of all faiths work there, because a job is a job and no one seemed too bothered about wearing leather sandals, shoes, jaclets, especially in winter, many of the young men ride around on their motos in a shiny leather jacket capturing the James Dean look or the terminator one!
I wouldn't worry about it at all. perhaps pay attention in temples and so on as Capt mentions but otherwise you'll be fine.

Mickey S

Not just from "certain deceased cows"...check out the link in post #2.

PeakXV

Thanks Mickey but I don't click on PETA links - especially after their attempted, sicko spin on the recent Canadian Greyhound bus murder.

Nick-H

I'm not going to click on the link either, but, responding to the quote above, I can say that it is not what happens at the slaughter house that makes me not eat beef in India --- it is the cruel conditions in which cattle are transported, often long distances.

Have to be honest and say I hadn't really thought about leather, but it's not as bad as it sounds as it doesn't really figure much in my daily life anyway. Watch strap; that's the only thing I can think of!

Some musical instruments, upon which sacred music is played, are made from leather, including cow leather.

When you see a cow wandering the streets, it is not doing so because it is "sacred", but because it is somebody's farm animal; for milk, maybe even for meat and leather. It may bring in a little extra cash partaking in rituals too --- see my profile picture. Some people may be close to their cows, as a family may be to a dog, but it is still a resource to them too.

Of course, if you are here for certain festivals, you will see the cows being garlanded and honoured --- but at another time you might see a workman paying tribute to his tools.

Plenty of leather goods available. Beef too!

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dzibead

Some of the wandering cows have been abandoned, too, when they stop being productive. I've seen a few really sickly, horrendous looking cows in India, whose sacredness seemed theoretical at best. I've read news articles saying that these abandoned cows are getting to be a real problem in some places, on the scale of the monkey problem.

twalnut

There may be temples/buildings that you wish to visit where you will be asked to not enter wearing, or carrying leather. They will be clearly marked. Most good guide books contain such info. Have a wonderful trip.

PeakXV

Some of those biker chicks that I see riding by these days might have to do a total striparoo to enter one of those holy spots then!?

Sama

I thought those are the Jain temples.

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crvlvr

most of the leather from India are exported -- some to the best Italian fashion houses. Good luck trying to avoid buying Indian leather just because you are buying leather good in another country.

I appreciate your concern about offending the Indian's sensibility. But, India is too complicated to apply what would seem like "common sense" elsewhere. Look, observer and learn quickly after you get to India.

Sama

I was in a store in Pondicherry three years ago that sold many fancy, upscale leather purses, purses that would easily sell for $500+ here....I did not see anyone protesting about how sacred the leather was.....

crvlvr

BTW, slaughter of cows in India is controlled. And is allowed in only 2 of the 28 (what is the count up to these days)? states. Many Hindus revere the cow. So while they may not condone killing the cow, nothing prevents them from liking cow by-products - milk, cheese, leather etc. Lets put it this way, if a cow died a natural death, nothing prevents them from putting the hide to use.

Moreover, there is NOTHING in the hindu scriptures that cow should be treated any different from other animals.