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Quarter million animals sacrificed at Hindu festival
Hinduism is generally thought of as a vegetarian religion, one that respects animals because in the cycle of death and rebirth, we've all been animals at one point or another. But Hinduism is an ancient and complex faith with almost a billion adherents, and there's such a diversity that virtually no common thread can be found in all methods of Hindu worship.Nothing proves that more true than Gadhimai Mela, a fair that takes places once every five years in southern Nepal to honor the goddess Gadhimai. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India have gathered to offer animal sacrifices to the goddess in return for blessings. One man who prayed for a son at the last festival had his wish granted, and this year reportedly sacrificed 105 buffaloes.
Animal rights campaigners protesting the festival have had no success. The Indian pilgrims came all the way to Nepal because animal sacrifice is illegal in India, and they're not going to be stopped. The BBC estimates that a quarter of a million animals, from pigeons to lambs to buffaloes, will be sacrificed. Local tanners and butchers are doing a brisk trade, as are the illicit stills set up to entertain the pilgrims. Six people have already died from drinking illegal home brew.
This isn't the only animal sacrifice in Hinduism. It's been popular in various times and places in the Hindu world and there are numerous references to it in holy texts, including a horse sacrifice in the famous epic the Ramayana, shown here.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Asia, Nepal, News






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pwowel Nov 25th 2009 1:58AM
this so-called "news" is yet another holier-than-thou hubris of western media. it reeks of a certain religion groups trying to throw negative light at another culture and heritage. killing is killing, however it's done. where is the protest against tens of millions of turkeys being killed this week in USA & Canada for thanksgiving rituals? there is no alternative to killing if you eat meat. better out in open so you see the gory details and cost of your source of meat, rather than in some hidden corporate slaughter houses. this outlandish "news" reporting is the height of hypocrisy!!
Sean McLachlan Nov 25th 2009 2:01AM
Ah, nothing like selective illiteracy! I made no comment on the festival, merely reported it. You filled in the rest.
pwlas Nov 25th 2009 12:03AM
Every year, a couple of days before Thanksgiving, our nation’s president “pardons” two of the 46 million turkeys who are set to be slaughtered for holiday meals.
http://blog.peta.org/archives/thanksgiving/
Chukari Nov 25th 2009 3:58PM
"selective illiteracy" .. how about selective hypocrisy?!
chukari Nov 25th 2009 3:59PM
"selective illiteracy!" .. how about selective hypocrisy?!
Sean McLachlan Nov 25th 2009 4:09PM
Once again, you are making assumptions to justify your world view. I made no judgment call on the festival, merely reported on the controversy. The Nepali Hindu animal rights activists and The Times of India made judgments, so if you have a problem, take it up with them.
gulakha Nov 27th 2009 4:37PM
Stop the Calderon Dolphin Slaughter in Denmark
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/stop-the-calderon-dolphin-slaughter-in-denmark
Every year, in Denmark, specifically the Faroe Islands, innocent and helpless Calderon Dolphins are slaughtered brutally by the danes. Why you may ask, simply because. A pointless and stupid right of passage to manhood.
Cali Jan 23rd 2010 4:14PM
What's so wrong about being judgmental? I judge this ritual to be stupid. The main reason this is so outrageous is the belief that killing makes some God happy. The only ones sacrificing are the animals, unwillingly, and for nothing.
I do think there is a time and place for ending a life, to relieve the suffering of that being.
Factory farming is horrible for all involved, including the humans, who grow callous to the suffering. If we don't judge, we cannot make changes.