Mundgod, April 24, 2006: Amidst the scorching summer heat, people of Mundgod came out to see and visit the first Vegetarian Restaurant in their settlement. 'KUNDHE' which means 'Happiness for all' was the name of the restaurant opened by Tibetan Volunteers for Animals(TVA). There are about 20 small Tibetan restaurants in the Settlement where beef Momo is the prime food.
In Mundgod alone, more than 1,500 bulls, buffaloes and calves are slaughtered each year for consumption. The figure still goes up during marriage seasons. Sick and injured animals are brought to Bangapur (about 70 Km from Mundgod) from the nearby villages and are slaughtered early in the morning. The butchers usually buy sick animals as they are cheaper, completely ignoring the possibilities of spreading diseases.
At the TVA's restaurant, on the first day of its opening, DRESIL(sweet Rice) was served to all the visitors. Butter tea and sweet tea were also served to anyone visiting the restaurant. The restaurant will serve low-priced vegetarian delicacies. On the menu there are over 37 different varieties of vegetarian dishes to choose from. Soft drinks like Pepsi, Coke or Thumsup will not be sold because one of TVA's aim is to protect the environment. The soft drink and bottling companies poses great threat to the environment and they are also not good for health. People of Mundgod were happy about the whole event. More than 700 people visited the restaurant.
Tables arranged outside restaurant to accomodate more people
TVA has plans to open vegetarian restaurants in all the Tibetan Settlements in India so that not only people get to enjoy a wide range of tasty vegetarian food but also get to live a healthier and a cruelty-free life.