JOIN USAnimal sacrifice continues in Odisha
The age-old tradition of animal sacrifice to appease Goddess Durga and other deities continued in different shrines in Odisha during this Dasara, too, despite a hue and cry by animal rights activists and efforts launched by the administration and the police to prevent devotees from participating in such practices.
The cruelty was at its peak at Bhawanipatna — the headquarter town of western Odisha’s Kalahandi district—last Thursday, when nearly thirty thousand animals were sacrificed during Chhatar Yatra of Goddess Manikeswari, which was celebrated as part of the annual Dasara festival. The animals include goats, hens, buffalos and even small birds.
The bloodbath continued on the streets of Bhawanipatna, as thousands of devotees gathered from Kalahandi and other parts of Odisha, and also from neighbouring states, to sacrifice the animals when a procession of the goddess was going on in the town. Although, police force as well as senior district officials were present to maintain law and order, they all remained mute spectators.
“It absolutely depends on how active the district administration is. The age-old tradition has come to an end at many shrines in the state because of sincere efforts by the respective district administrations”, said animal rights activist, Jiban Ballav Das.
However, Kalahandi district officials said they had taken several steps, including a massive campaign across the district through banners, posters and roadside plays with the help of NGO groups to create awareness among the devotees not to indulge in animal sacrifice. Some activists feel that there is an urgent need of a specific state law to stop the animal sacrifice.