Nepal temple bans animal sacrifice

In a break from tradition, Nepalese temple authorities on Tuesday announced an indefinite ban on a centuries-old Hindu tradition of mass animal slaughter that attracts hundreds of thousands of worshippers. The festival, which dates back about 265 years and which some say has even more ancient roots, is based on a dream founder Bhagwan Chowdhary had featuring Gadhimai, the Hindu goddess of power.

Mr. Adhikari proposed gradual reform: Temple and festival authorities should start by overseeing the humane killing of animals in designated slaughterhouses, eventually switching to symbolic sacrifices in which vegetables replace animals, he wrote.

The announcement follows rigorous negotiations and campaigning by Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN) and Humane Society International/India, which has been working with the Gadhimai Trust for an end to the ritual where buffalo calves along with a slew of smaller animals such as goats, pigs, rats, pigeons and hens are sacrificed.

The Supreme Court of India had recently issued directions to states to set up mechanisms to prevent animals from being taken to Gadhimai in future and create awareness against animal sacrifice. 70% animals are technically smuggled from India. “Moreover, we can ensure Gadhimai 2019 is a momentous celebration of life”, chairman of the temple trust Ram Chandra Shah said. Animal rights activist have held several protesting demanding a ban in the slaughter animals.

“It has been a long effort”.

But the tide has changed, thanks to devoted campaigning from animal lovers, including the welfare groups Animal Welfare Network Nepal and Humane Society International/India. For every life taken, our heart is heavy. Animal sacrifice is a highly regressive practice and no nation in the modern world should entertain it.

The announcement comes on the heels of an global movement against the event, which led the Indian Supreme Court to prohibit animals from being shipped or shepherded across the border to be killed as offerings. “Earlier this year, following the global outrage stemming from the Gadhimai massacre, the temple committee also decided not to sacrifice any animals during the harvest festival (Sankranti)”, said the statement. Aided by news media… these campaigners worry so much about the plight of the animals that they blissfully ignore the human suffering around them. We commend the temple committee but acknowledge that a huge task lies ahead of us in educating the public so that they are fully aware. The apex court’s order resulted in more than 100 arrests of those breaching the order. These are the questions all those who still practice animal sacrifice in the name of religion need to ask themselves.