Animal sacrifice row: devotees continue to fight for their rights at Chikkallur

The conflict between the devotees and the district administration over animal sacrifice, as part of the five-day Chikkallur jatra, continues in Kollegal taluk.

The district administration has enforced the High Court's order, banning animal sacrifice, and is not allowing the devotees to bring animals to the temple. But the devotees, citing an interim order of the High Court, have been urging not to interrupt their pankti seva, a tradition followed since years.

It is alleged that the district administration is not allowing the devotees to bring animals to the place where the temple fair is being held. The devotees pointed out that the HC has directed to stop animal sacrifice and not to seize the animals. The administration is trying to disrupt the tradition being followed for decades, they alleged.

Custom

Mahadev Shankanapura, a researcher said that there is no custom of performing animal sacrifice during the festival. Though animal sacrifice is not a part of the jatra, pankti seva is followed. Devotees sacrifice animals in makeshift tents outside the temple, offer it to the deity and later, share the non-vegetarian food, he said.

The HC has passed an interim order saying pankti seva is the right of the devotees, which is held without violating the law and not hurting the sentiments of other devotees.

Speaking to DH, Vishwa Prani Kalyana Mandali president Dayananda Swami said that the devotees justify that animals are not sacrificed, but non-vegetarian food will be served.

It should be noted that non-veg food cannot be served without killing animals in the vicinity. This will also be considered as animal sacrifice, he said.