Indian Woman Covers Car in Cow Dung to ‘Protect’ It From 113 Degree Heat

A woman in western India went above and beyond to protect her car from soaring temperatures by covering the vehicle in cow dung.

Sejal Shah, who lives in Ahmedabad, Gujarat took cues from an old insulation practice of rural residents, who used the same technique to cover their walls and floors in times of extreme weather conditions.

Parts of India are recording temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) this week, including Gujarat, Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Odisha, according to The Weather Channel.

To ensure safety, officials in certain areas advised people to stay indoors between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“Best use of cow dung I have ever seen,” wrote Rupesh Gauranga Das, who shared the now-viral photo of Shah’s Toyota sedan on Facebook.

He continued, “To counter 45 degree heat temperatures and protect [her] car from getting hot, Mrs. Sejal Shah has plastered it with cow dung. Getting cool.”

In the comments, Das revealed that the photos were sent to him on WhatsApp.

While he claims that they have been taken in Ahmedabad, the car’s registration shows that it is based in Mumbai and registered under the name of Ramniklal Shah, according to Indian Express.

Aside from supposedly keeping structures warm in the winter and cool in the summer, cow dung is also used as a natural disinfectant and mosquito repellant, according to Times Now. Some also claim that cow dung stops radiation in phones, while others believe that cow urine cures cancer.

Needless to say, the dung-covered sedan drew mixed reactions online, with many people who may have never expected such a sight. Facebook users commented:

“Disgusting.”

“Innovative.”

“Very very good idea.”

“This is the most stupid thing I’ve ever come across.”

“Did it work? I am thinking that this would actually heat it more, since the ‘source’ of heat along with the passengers will be inside the insulation!”

Images via Facebook / Rupesh Gauranga Das

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