Fw: (NP): Animal Sacrifice in Nepal

[Guest guest]

-

" Mandy Lamkin " <TheTaraprojectAustralia

" Dr John Wedderburn " <john

Saturday, 19 October, 2002 15:09

(NP): Animal Sacrifice in Nepal

 

 

 

For many in Nepal - the only Hindu nation in the world - ritual slaughter

(sacrifice) of animals is as abhorrent a practice as it is to many foreign

observers who look on with dismay and uncomprehension at the apparent

hypocrisy of the situation.

 

While it's true to say that sacrifice is contrary to the teachings of

Hinduism, the picture from close range, however, is not as simply

hypocritical as one may perhaps imagine - and certainly much more complex.

This is because Nepal is made up of a dense amalgam of regional and

inter-related ethnic groups and religions - some based on Hinduism, some

Buddhist in background, others sharmanistic or animist, some a combination

of any or all of these.

 

We also have to face up to the reality that ritual slaughter will be around

in whatever form it takes as long as it remains a perceived advantage for

its " consumers " and for the clerical elite of some of the religions who may

use it to glean superstition-based support. Subsequently, setting the

animals free will also mean " setting free " humans from ages of this

traditional means to respond to the insecurities and otherwise of their

world, of which there are many. This most psychological of barriers, in

itself, means the process of eliminating animal sacrifice will most likely

be slow.

 

Regardless, if change is to come to the sacrificing habits of thousands of

Nepalese (and people all around the world like them who use animals in this

way), and if they're to listen to the reasons why they should stop these

practices, then the impulse for change must necessarily come from within

the society where these practices occur. In a recent issue of The Himalayan

Times newspaper of Kathmandu, responses to its " Question of the Week "

('What do you think of Dasain sacrifices and the custom of bali (ritual

slaughter)') voiced an almost unanimous " no " to sacrifice. Some of the more

interesting comments of the 32 letters the paper received were:

 

" God is compassionate, how can blood make him happy?' (Malika Nepal)

 

" I strongly believe that this custom of 'bali' should be completely

eradicated. It is a trivial superstition that should be condemned by each

and every member of society. " (Manu Bhandari)

 

" If we kill animals for the sake of festivals then there is no meaning in

celebrating the World's Animal Day on October 4. " (Smriti)

 

[the tradition] is a shame on our society and on Nepalis as a whole

[...]. We have realised the evil of 'sati' and human sacrifice, it's high

time that we give up the custom of 'bali' and strive for a violence-free

Dashain. " (Dibya R Tuladhar)

 

" Civilisation means an end to cruelty, [...] the development of

sensitivity, [...] the end of unnecessary bloodshed. ...Some vigorous

attempts to stop animal sacrifices from this Dashain itself will be a good

way to start the campaign for the future. " (Amar B. Shrestha)

 

" ....the holy temples of Durga are converted into slaughterhouses during

Dashain. " (D.B. Chhettri)

 

" ...not even a single verse from the Veda says that there should be any

kind of violence. " (Yogi Narahani Nath)

 

" We should follow [Dashain] but instead ....we can sacrifice fruits and

vegetables. " (Kunsang Sanghey Sherpa)

 

Two people defended bali by saying:

 

" ....I think Bali helps to maintain ecological balance. Bali helps to

reduce the numbers of animals...if only animals are increased there will be

 

no space for human beings... " ( Suvekshya)

 

" Without [bali] Dashain would lose its significance. " (Prakesh Shrestha)

 

As evidenced from these comments there is a progressive movement within the

Nepalese community to question and seek true justification from those

carrying out sacrifice. Recently, on the eve of the annual Dasain festival

(one of Nepal's most important, and the catalyst for widespread ritual

killing) a nationally televised forum among the leaders of religion and

community debated the merits and otherwise of sacrifice. Education and a

shift in perceptions of animal sacrifice have already influenced many

Nepalese families to cease carrying out sacrifice, and issues in public

health have also heightened awareness.

 

There are other reasons to be optimistic: there is now an increasingly

active SPCA; and animal welfare regulations are in their final stage as the

authors seek international comment and advice on content and wording,

though there is no outlawing (yet) of sacrifice.

 

Simplistic outright criticism about the mistreatment of animals is not

always the most productive way of challenging ancient or modern mindsets,

wherever they are. With open-minded support and a tenacious and informed

push for authentic compassion towards all beings (including human Nepalis

whose lives, anyway, are in turmoil), change will come in beneficial and

lasting ways. The day is getting closer when we will not have to ask

animals in the Himalayan, again, to be patient.

 

Mandy Lamkin

Life Member/Hon Advisor,

SPCA Nepal

 

>

>> " Avantika Regmi " <regmia

> Sat, 28 Sep 2002 01:22:19 cst

> X-Message-Number: 2

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> What is the fate of a country where even the king believes in animal

sacrifice to appease the gods? No, this is not about the 18th century. This

is the reality in a country of 23 million humans, home to the mighty

Himalayas, in

the year 2002. The country in question is Nepal. It is steeped in

superstition

and cutting the heads of animals or slowly bleeding them to death here to

appease the blood-thirsty gods is very common. As of yet, animal right laws

are

non-existent in Nepal.

During the major festivals tens of thousands of animals are sacrificed. It

is an uphill but not an impossible task to change the mindset of at least

the Nepalese government. Please visit the following website and provide us

your, and your organization's help to put worldwide pressure on Nepal to

stop the

animal sacrifices, and enact Animal Rights Laws.

>

http://www.geocities.com/stopsacrifice/

>

> yours sincerely,

> Avantika Regmi<