RITUAL ANIMAL SLAUGHTER IN NEPAL (erstwhile Hindu Rashtra) The two-day ritual slaughter of tens of thousands of animals -- among the worlds largest sacrifice of animals -- began on a specific TUESDAY in southern Nepal (erstwhile Hindu Rashtra) in 2009. In it about 200,000 - 300,000 animals, including male water buffalo, goats, birds and roosters were slaughtered, despite protests from animal rights activists, according to the chief priest of the festival. People from Nepal and India sacrificed animals to the Goddess Gadhimai in Bariyapur in Bara district, about 160 kilometers south of Kathmandu, in thanks for wishes granted. This is a divine power center, Mangal Chaudhary, the head priest of the Gadhimai temple, said by phone. When people wish for a son, a job, good health or anything else come true, they make an offering to the Gadhimai Goddess. More than 5 million people -- 60 percent from India, which shares an open border with Nepal -- attended the festival. Government officials say they cannot stop the centuries-old tradition, despite opposition from animal-rights activists from Nepal and India. This is a matter of peoples religion and belief, said chief district officer Tara Nath Gautam, the highest-ranking government official in Bara. Nepals government has refused to put a stop to what it says is a centuries-old religious tradition, and has pledged 4.5 million rupees in funding. Animal rights activists say they arent looking for a sea change. We do not expect this practice to stop overnight. A sustained effort is needed so that, sometime, the practice will end, said Nepali animal rights activist Pramada Shah. https://youtube/watch?v=ok5yjmbuzc8
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 09:25:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015