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<h1>India makes cola from cow urine
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<h2>To millions of devout Hindus, it's the real thing: a cola made from the urine of India's sacred cows.
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<p> By Dean Nelson in New Delhi
<br /> Last Updated: 3:53PM GMT 11 Feb 2009
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<img src="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01294/cownose_1294178c.jpg" alt="Cow nose: India makes cola from cow urine " height="288" width="460" />
<div class="imageExtras" style="width: 460px;"> <span class="caption">Hindus worship cows for their life-sustaining dairy products</span> <span class="credit">Photo: GETTY</span>
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<p>The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, India's leading Hindu cultural group, has developed Gau Jal or Cow Water, at its research centre in the Indian holy city of Haridwar on the River Ganges, and hopes it will be marketed as a 'healthy' alternative to Coke and Pepsi.
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<p>Hindus worship cows for their life-sustaining dairy products, but many also consume bovine urine and faeces in drinks and spice mixes for their "health-giving" properties.
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<p>In some Indian states, cow dung and urine are sold in regular dairy shops alongside milk and yogurt, and "ayurvedic" Indian health food companies make porridge, toothpaste and tonic drinks which claim to cure ailments ranging from liver complaints to diabetes and cancer. The urine is also believed to have disinfectant properties while the dung is used in many Indian village huts as a clean and antiseptic flooring.
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<p>Now, the RSS's Cow Protection Department has invented a new urine-based soft drink it hopes will promote its health-giving properties to a wider market. "We refer to gau ark (cow urine) as gau jal (cow water) as it has immense potential to cure various diseases. We have developed a soft drink formula with gau jal as the base and it has been sent to a laboratory at Lucknow for testing," said director Om Prakash.
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<p>His team is now focusing on packaging, marketing, and of course preservation to stop its curative drink from going whiffy in the summer heat.
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<p>"It will be a revolution of sorts. The acceptance of cow urine as a potent medicine is increasing day by day and once it comes as a cold drink, its demand will definitely increase. It will prove and justify the high stature accorded to a cow in Indian culture." he added.
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<h1>India makes cola from cow urine
</h1>
<h2>To millions of devout Hindus, it's the real thing: a cola made from the urine of India's sacred cows.
</h2>
</div>
<div class="headerOne">
</div>
<div class="byline">
<p> By Dean Nelson in New Delhi
<br /> Last Updated: 3:53PM GMT 11 Feb 2009
</p>
</div>
<div class="slideshow">
<div style="display: block;" class="ssImg">
<img src="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01294/cownose_1294178c.jpg" alt="Cow nose: India makes cola from cow urine " height="288" width="460" />
<div class="imageExtras" style="width: 460px;"> <span class="caption">Hindus worship cows for their life-sustaining dairy products</span> <span class="credit">Photo: GETTY</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, India's leading Hindu cultural group, has developed Gau Jal or Cow Water, at its research centre in the Indian holy city of Haridwar on the River Ganges, and hopes it will be marketed as a 'healthy' alternative to Coke and Pepsi.
</p>
<p>Hindus worship cows for their life-sustaining dairy products, but many also consume bovine urine and faeces in drinks and spice mixes for their "health-giving" properties.
</p>
<p>In some Indian states, cow dung and urine are sold in regular dairy shops alongside milk and yogurt, and "ayurvedic" Indian health food companies make porridge, toothpaste and tonic drinks which claim to cure ailments ranging from liver complaints to diabetes and cancer. The urine is also believed to have disinfectant properties while the dung is used in many Indian village huts as a clean and antiseptic flooring.
</p>
<p>Now, the RSS's Cow Protection Department has invented a new urine-based soft drink it hopes will promote its health-giving properties to a wider market. "We refer to gau ark (cow urine) as gau jal (cow water) as it has immense potential to cure various diseases. We have developed a soft drink formula with gau jal as the base and it has been sent to a laboratory at Lucknow for testing," said director Om Prakash.
</p>
<p>His team is now focusing on packaging, marketing, and of course preservation to stop its curative drink from going whiffy in the summer heat.
</p>
<p>"It will be a revolution of sorts. The acceptance of cow urine as a potent medicine is increasing day by day and once it comes as a cold drink, its demand will definitely increase. It will prove and justify the high stature accorded to a cow in Indian culture." he added.
</p>
