(NP) - One village at the time...

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While the interim government of Nepal, including former Maoist rebels, once

more publicly beheaded 54 young buffaloes and 54 he-goats as a sacrifice for

Durga during Dasain festival, followed by mass sacrifice of hundreds and

thousands of animals by the public, villlages in Gurkha stand out as a " no

violence zone " . This remote area, eight days walking from Gurkha district

headquarters, offers some hope in a society that hangs on to age old

traditions.

**

*Villages shun sacrifice since 90 yrs*

 

BY DAMODAR NEUPANE

 

GORKHA, Oct 18 - It's quite hard to imagine a place in Nepal where animal

sacrifice is shunned even during the greatest festival of the Hindus,

Dashain. But two remote VDCs in Gorkha are exceptions -- there has been no

animal sacrifice there for the last 90 years.

 

Chum area (Chumchet and Chhekampar VDCs), which is eight days' walk from

district headquarters, was declared a 'no violence zone' 90 years ago.

Interestingly, there is no buying and selling of cattle either these days.

 

Guru Dukpa Ringpoche Serab Dorje initiated the violence free zone.

 

" It has been our tradition now, " said Nima Lama, a local at Chhekampar VDC.

He said that 'non-violence' has become their creed these days. In a country

that has suffered a bloody insurgency for over a decade and is still

struggling to break from the past, these two villages offer hope.

 

After the arrival of the Bhutan- born Rimpochhe Dorje in the village, he

worked hard to convince people to follow the path of non-violence. He

preached relentlessly to make villagers aware of the impact of any kind of

violence. Five years after his arrival all the villagers had gone

vegetarian.

 

With the help of local leaders, a strong rule was enforced to prevent animal

sacrifice. One had to pay 250 rupees penalty if s/he sacrificed an animal.

 

" Nobody breached the rule, " said 91-year-old Chhewang Laharke, adding,

" Everyone follows the teachings of the guru and it has now become an

integral part of our precious culture. "

 

Locals have not even reared cattle except cows. " Why rear other animals

since there is no use for them, " said a local.

 

Villagers have also blocked the trading of animals through these villages.

" We have taken the decision to discourage other people from animal

sacrifice, " said Dawang Khenrab, guru of a local monastery.

 

Posted on: 2007-10-17 21:04:14 (Server Time)

 

 

 

 

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Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Bagdol, Patan, Nepal

Wijk 4-47, 8321 GE Urk, Holland