Indonesians snap up ‘luxury’ cows for Muslim Eid festival

Every year ahead of the Muslim feast of sacrifice, a showroom in Indonesia swaps cars for hulking cows costing up to US$25,000 each, seeking to lure a wealthy elite increasingly keen on ploughing money into celebrating their religion. Salesgirls in tight outfits and heavy make-up accompany customers as they view the prime livestock that will be slaughtered at the Eid al-Adha festival, which falls on Sunday in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. At the festival, Muslims with the financial means are obliged to buy an animal to be ritually sacrificed in honour of the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son on the order of God.

They are the Lexus and Mercedes of the cattle world.

Salesgirl Desnia Yoshie

The showroom attracts the elite, from government ministers to wealthy Indonesians who come back from overseas for Eid, according to owner Ramdoni Hussainor. He said that this year he has so far sold 5,000 cows, up from 4,750 in 2013. The cows are from Australian stock and weigh up to 1.7 tonnes, about the same as a Ferrari 550 sports car. As for the showroom’s staff, switching from selling cars to cows for a month each year is a unique experience – but not one that is always pleasant.

I smell like cow and have to shampoo my hair three times every day. I have told my boss that he owes us all a visit to the spa after Eid.

Ms Yoshie

Odd News Eid Al-Adha