Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (MS)
Puttur, Feb 1: In olden days most of the houses were built from mud. So, invariably, the floor and half of the walls were painted with cow dung. As modernization set in, cement buildings replaced mud houses and people forgot the cow dung totally. However, a resident of this town has attempted a unique project and painted the walls of his house using cow dung.
Panchagavya Sidda doctor, Dr Shashishekhar Bhat, a resident of Devakana near Bendra Theertha of Irde Village in the taluk has started a unique project called 'Go Rang'. He has successfully painted the walls of his house with cow dung from indigenous cow.
How the idea was mooted?
Dr Shashishekhar realized that the paint that is available in the market, which is made of harmful chemicals, is bad for the health of the inmates who live in such a house or building. So he thought of this new product and succeded in his idea.
This cow dung paint can be prepared by using the cow dung of only indigeneous breed of cows. There is a possibility that this cow dung paint may enter the market soon.
How the cow dung paint is prepared?
Certain medicinal plant herbs are mixed with the cow dung and prepared so that it sticks to the wall. Shashishekhar has the plan of manufacturing this paint in various colours also.
Dr Shashidhar Bhat says "In olden days people used to use cow dung for walls and floor of the houses. However, as the modernization of the universe started, paints made of harmful chemicals entered the mearket. There is a chance that the chemical paint may have an adverse effect on the health of the inmates of the house. So the main aim of cow dung paint is to improve the power of resistance against the diseases of the people living under the roof of such houses."
How to use?
Cow dung paint can be used in the similar like any synthetic chemical paint. As with normal chemical paint, the cow dung paint also needs to be coated twice on the walls to get good finish. This is waterproof also. The irritation of the eyes and itching of the skin experienced by the painters, while using synthetic chemical paint is not there in cow dung paint. The painters also have expressed their willingness to introduce cow dung paint to the market.
According to Dr Bhat, this cow dung paint also has the ability to prevent heat from increasing during summer days and has no side effects on the human beings.