Despite protests, mass animal sacrifice to go on as planned in Nepal

Katmandu, Nepal -- A Hindu festival in which thousands of animals are expected to be sacrificed will go ahead as scheduled in southern Nepal despite protests, organizers said Friday.

The Gadhimai festival, celebrated every five years, is attended by many Hindus from India as well as from Nepal. More than 200,000 buffaloes, pigs, goats, chickens and pigeons are expected to be slaughtered this year on Nov. 24 and 25.

Organizers said they will not bow to "interference" from animal rights and religious groups that have held protests in Katmandu and in the festival area in Bara district, about 100 miles south of the capital.

"We will not stop this centuries-old tradition now. This is our religion, belief and tradition and we will continue with it no matter what," said Motilal Kushwa of the organizing committee.

Kushwa said thousands of people have already arrived at the site with animals meant for sacrifice next week.

Participants believe that animal sacrifices for the Hindu goddess Gadhimai will end evil and bring prosperity. Many join the festival from the state of Bihar in India, where animal sacrifices have been banned in some areas.

Critics say the killings are barbaric and conducted in a cruel manner.

Government administrator Taranath Gauram said hundreds of extra police officers have been sent to the area to maintain security and officials do not expect trouble during the festival.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan, a Nepalese teenager revered by many as a reincarnation of Buddha, has joined the campaign against the animal slaughter and plans to visit the festival area to appeal directly to participants to stop the sacrifices.

Bamjan's followers believe he has been meditating without food and water in the jungles of southern Nepal since 2005. Believers say he spends months without moving, sitting with his eyes closed beneath a tree.

-- Associated Press

Photo: Supporters of Ram Bahadur Bamjan offer prayers as they protest the slaughter of animals during next week's Gadhimai festival in Nepal. Credit: Gemunu Amarasinghe / Associated Press

Comments

[duggo]

here's where the rubber meets the road vis-a-vis religious freedoms which are contary to one another, not to mention modernist populism of all differing cultures, going head to head in the light of day--- i am frankly stunned that there hasn't yet, to this date, been outright war over the temple mount--- there are countless other examples...

[Whatever in LA]

End evil and bring prosperity? I doubt that. Bad karma is more like it!

[Bill Cymbalsky]

How many turkeys killed in the USA this week?

[Cherida Hivale]

I hope tourists and traders will boycott Nepal from trade and not endorse any products or travel to Nepal until the Governemtn takes strong measures to stop this primitive slaughter of animals

[Nevin Leder]

Where's the Dali Lama on this?

Although he's not Hindu, he is a very well respected Tibetan who understands the culture of neighboring Nepal and who could probably influence thousands against this barbaric and cruel practice.

Your "Holiness" are you listening?

[shyam]

Before anyone jump into conclusion of 'evil' practice in Nepal, I would like to ask you how many animals are killed in corporate slaughterhouses every day to make burger's and nuggets? what about the turky you are going to sacrifice next week. Western Hippocracy nevers stops!