World's largest animal sacrifice must be stopped

Animal lovers and activists give clarion call to stop animal bloodshed at Nepal's Gadhimai festival

- Dhairya Gajara

Animal lovers and activists from across India have given a clarion call to stop the animal sacrifice, said to be the world's largest, which takes place at Nepal's Gadhimai temple during a festival celebrated every five years. Many from India also participate in the month-long fair.

The protestors have urged the Gadhimai Temple Trust in Bara district of southern Nepal to do away with the sacrifice practice, which is likely to be held between December 7 and 9. The animals' sacrifice is meant to please goddess Gadhimai, who is believed to be deity Kali's avatar, so that their wishes are fulfilled. Animals are brutally beheaded by sharp knives and kukris, making it a gory sight.

According to Humane Society International (HSI), an organisation working for animal welfare in 50 countries, around five lakh animals, including buffaloes, goats, rats, chickens, pigs and pigeons, were slaughtered at the festival in 2009. However, it claimed that the figure dropped to 30,000 in 2014 and declined further in 2019.