<P> Gopastami, a holiday celebrated by the Hindus once a year, is one of the few instances where cows receive prayers in modern - day India . While the cow is still respected and honored by most of the Indian population, there has been controversy over the treatment of the cows during the holiday . Because cow slaughtering is only legal in two Indian states, cows must be transported around the country in rather poor conditions, usually train or by foot . This lack of sacredness toward the cows alarms many animal activists and some dedicated Hindus . </P> <P> In Nepal, the cow is the national animal . Cows give milk from which the people produce dahi (yogurt), ghee, butter, etc . In Nepal, a Hindu - majority country, slaughtering of cows and bulls is completely banned . Cows are considered like the Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and prosperity). The Nepalese have a festival called Tihar (Diwali) during which, on one day called Gaipuja, they perform prayers for cows . </P> <P> According to a Lodi News - Sentinel news story written in the 1960s, in then contemporary Nepal an individual could serve three months in jail for killing a pedestrian, but one year for injuring a cow, and life imprisonment for killing a cow . </P> <P> Cows roam freely and are sacred . Buffalo slaughtering was done in Nepal at specific Hindu events, such as at the Gadhimai festival, last held in 2014 . In 2015, Nepal's temple trust on announced to cancel all future animal sacrifice at the country's Gadhimai festival . </P>

Which of the following religions consider the cow to be scared