Cowfies galore

Selfies have become an integral part of our lives, let's make no mistake about that. We've seen people take breathtaking selfies as well as post some that would make you scroll down your newsfeed as fast as you possibly can (maybe even try out the “Unfollow” option for these subjects). And then, there are “cowfies.” As we inch closer to the meatier Eid among the two, chances are your Facebook homepage is already starting to clog up with pictures of individuals taking selfies with cows.

The concept of a cowfie took over social media during the days leading to Eid ul Azha 2014. One of the front-running telecom companies of the country started an online campaign and brought in the talents of talented music producer, Fuad al Muqtadir. A music video was shot to accompany the catchy tunes of the “Cowfie song” and its popularity rose by the minute. People started submitting cowfies to the online contest to win smartphones, and suddenly, a "cowfie" was officially a thing.

The relevant telco saw this as a great marketing strategy in Bangladesh and even went on to invest in a bigger production, coming out with a cowfie TVC for 2015. And the craze took over, all over again.

Cowfies have evolved a lot, if I dare say so myself. At least there weren't any cowfies with severed heads on my newsfeed last year but there is no denying that there are a few out there, who tend to take it to a level so gory, there's no coming back. Some would even say that the quiet act of sacrifice in the name of religion is being lost with added publicity and the sense of materialistic triumphs which entices one to boast on social media.

While we can all agree that Eid is always fun, we musn't forget that it's also about sacrifice, humility and faith; it is crucial to keep the true spirit of the religious holiday alive. That being said, it didn't take much time for “selfie” to be registered as an official word by the Oxford English Dictionary, we wonder how long it would take cowfies to do the same.

Whether you like it or hate it, cowfies have made it's way into our worlds and God knows, they are probably here to say. With Eid right around the corner, only time will tell. Until then Eid Moo-barak folks!