How did British colonial rule in India contribute to the spread of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny?

It must be clearly understood that the sepoy mutiny of 1857 was just a flash in the pan as the British ruled India for 190 years and during this long period, the British Indian Army never revolted against the company or British colonial rule. 1857 was an exception mainly because of misinformation that spread among the sepoys who were devoted Hindus and Muslims. They were greatly hurt when they came to know the cartridges they were using for their new Enfield rifles were greased with the lard-off cows and pigs. It was an expression of their faith and not against British rule because the mutiny was quickly suppressed and thousands of Indian troops remained part of the British army and fought on the side of the British. To call the 1857 mutiny the first great war of independence is a misnomer, as it was only a local fracas that never spread to the entire India.