Mass Animal Sacrifice a Go Despite Protest

(AP)  A Hindu festival in which hundreds of 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 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 policemen 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.

[Sloughfoot]

Hey folks the ritual is necessary to remove the pets from the market place. Animal damage control with a religious twist. America's ADC and "Humane society kill tens of millions of feral and wild animals yearly. We just don't try to justify it in the name of "God". Our ADC calls it range and livestock management and the Humane Society call it "your fault".

[wyodutch]

200,000 animals killed? That's peanuts.
.
Tyson kills that many chickens in an 8-hour shift.
.
Where do you think those hot wings and stir fry come from?

[Overruled1]

Oh my how ignorant can people be?
These are Hindu?
Don't they believe killing animals is killing people?
Let me guess, these are the extremist wing of the Hindu religion!!

On a more serious note, There is no god. Therefore these people are wasting their time, money and being misled by those who gain by loyalty.

[Overruled1]

I was informed I was referring to the buddists....
I stand corrected...however my conclusion still remains the same

[cleric60]

Hey, "Just do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end"
I'm wondering what god or goddress are we trying to please when we
abort millions of babies each year? O maybe the god or goddress, we called SELF.

[I_am_me1953]

From the above article, "Participants believe that animal sacrifices for the Hindu goddess Gadhimai will end evil and bring prosperity."

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Maybe we should do this in Washington, D.C.

[Brokennews]

It would a good time to open a BBQ stand.

[30127cnet]

This is an excellent example of why organized religion (of ANY religion) has a core of barbaric mentalities. Some prosecute others, while other faiths have gone on crusades to rid the world of those unlike themselves - and now we have those who would kill creatures in nature simply over a ritual. Absolutely barbaric.

Maybe they'll ponder this theory one day when aliens hover over us and start to "slaughter the animals below" as some sort of ritual of their own? hmmmm

[document7]

... without food and water since 2005? I don't think so...

[mawskrat]

at least I hope they eat the animals

[displeased]

Killing 200,000 animals ends evil? I think it's the other way around. Crazy religious psychos.