Hundreds of animals sacrificed in Orissa temples

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Indo-Asian News Service

 

September 29, 2006 Friday 4:28 PM EST

 

Hundreds of animals sacrificed in Orissa temples

Indo-Asian News Service

Kendrapada (Orissa)

 

 

Kendrapada (Orissa), Sep 29 -- Nearly 250 animals, including goats

and buffaloes, were sacrificed at two Orissa temples in Kendrapada

district Friday by villagers who believe this offering would fetch

them blessings and protect them from disasters.

 

While around 200 animals were sacrificed at the Panchubaraha Temple

near Satbhaya village, around 50 were killed at the Maabudhigagulei

Temple at Osanagara, said a senior police official.

 

He added that the animal sacrifice took place despite huge protests

by animal rights activists.

 

People from over a dozen villages have gathered at these two temples

since time immemorial to sacrifice animals on the seventh day of the

auspicious Navratri period.

 

" Sacrificing animals has been their family tradition for generations

and the administration is helpless. The number of buffaloes has gone

down because of this ritual, " said a villager.

 

Published by HT Syndication with permission from Indo-Asian News

Service.

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