Gadhimai festival is a sacrificial ritual that is held every 5 years at the Gadhimai temple ofBariyarpur, in Bara District, about 100 miles (160 km) south of the capital Kathmandu in southern Nepal, near the Indo-Nepal border. The event involves the worlds second largestsacrificial slaughter of animals after Hajj (but third largest in terms of number of animals consumed after Thanksgiving and Eid al-Adha) including water buffaloes, pigs, goats, chicken, rats, and pigeons – with the goal of pleasing Gadhimai, the goddess of power Hindu Worshippers Killed 500,000 Animals At A Festival, And The Pictures Are Staggering The largest traditional animal sacrifice in the world began last weekend in southern Nepal with an estimated 4,000 buffalo, goats, and pigeons slaughtered on Friday alone. The two-day festival, called Gadhimai Mela Festival, takes place at the Gadhimai temple about 100 miles south of Kathmandu. The festival is held every five years, during which hundreds of thousands of animals are killed in the name of the Hindu goddess of power. Devotees believe the ritual will bring them good luck. In 2009, an estimated 350,000 animals were killed. Close to 500,000 animals were expected to be sacrificed this year, despite campaigns to ban the festival. Millions of Hindus from all over India and Nepal participate in the festival to honor the Goddess Gadhimai, a Hindu deity who devotees believe will grant them wishes if they sacrifice animals and birds. The Sword-wielding Hindu devotees began slaughtering the animals on Friday, ignoring calls by animal rights activists to put an end to the worlds largest animal sacrifice ritual. In past years, nearly 70% of the animals entering Nepal to be slaughtered came from India. That figure has dropped since Indias Supreme Court banned the illegal entry of animals to Nepal, especially for the Gadhimai Mela. The festival is partially funded by the government of Nepal as the fair brings in tourists and money. Temple authorities also charge entry and parking fees. Animals are coralled into holding pens in a large field before having their throats slit or their heads chopped off. It is very festive here, everyone is excited, Mangal Chaudhary, the head priest at the slaughter site near a temple devoted to Gadhimai, told AlJazeera. After the buffalo are killed, their heads are thrown into a freshly dug large pit in the field, and their hides are sold to the highest-bidding contractors. Activists have petitioned Nepals president to end this cruel tradition that began about 260 years ago. Still, the animal sacrifice ritual draws over 2 million Hindus to the festival site and remains an important religious holiday. businessinsider/stunning-photos-of-the-worlds-largest-animal-sacrifice-2014-12
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 16:03:00 +0000
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