The Hill Saora are a tribal group found in Orissa.

Long ago, the Hill Saora did not eat the meat of cows. This was because Kittunga, their supreme god, was a special friend of the cow.

One day, Kittunga put his bed out in the sun to dry. The cow, which was passing by, felt hungry and ate the bed. When Kittunga saw this, he was very angry. Then he put a curse on the cow saying, "As you ate my bed, so will men eat you. But because you are my friend, the men who perform rituals to me will not eat your flesh."

From that day on, the Hill Saora have been eating the flesh of cows. However, their shamans, who perform rituals, do not eat the flesh of cows.