Nepal government no longer pays for animal sacrifices

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*State to shun Dashain sacrifices*

 

BY BABURAM KHAREL

 

KATHMANDU, Sept 20 - The government will no longer spend from state coffers

on animal sacrifice to various deities during the upcoming Dashain festival.

The Ministry of Culture and State Restructuring has sent letters to the

Kaushitoshakhana, Guthi Sansthan and the Department of Archaeology, asking

them to stop sacrificing animals during the festival. The ministry has cited

the Finance Ministry's decision not to release any fund to purchase and

sacrifice of animals, a tradition throughout the country for centuries.

 

The Finance Ministry's circular has given permission to continue the

tradition of carrying out religious worship, but ordered that these be

economical in a bid to cut down expenditures.

 

" The concerned departments are not allowed to spend state funds on animal

sacrifice, but they can carry on with cultural traditions in an economical

way, " the ministry circular reads.

 

There are dozens of other festivals and temples where animal sacrifice is a

must tradition. Kaushitoshakhana, Guthi Sansthan the Nepal Army and Police

used to spend millions on animal sacrifice and ritual worship.

 

According to the Kaushitoshakhana, which handles ritual sacrifices at

Hanuman Dhoka and dozens of other religious sites it had sacrificed 250

goats and 190 buffaloes costing Rs. 1.8 million during last year's Dashain.

Around 3.2 million rupees was spent on other ritual worships. Altogether 54

buffalos and 54 goats were sacrificed on the eighth night of Dashain at

Hanumandhoka alone.

 

On the other hand, the Guthi Sansthan had spent nearly Rs. 10.5 million on

rituals and animal sacrifices during the festive season. Besides Dashain

expenses, according to Sansthan officials, it spends over Rs. 50 million

annually on various festivals at different temples across the country.

 

It may be recalled that the government tried in the past had also to reduce

expenditure on ritual sacrifices. But request did not materialise.

 

Officials at Kaushitoshakhana said it would be difficult for them to

suddenly cut expenditures on rituals practiced over hundreds of years. " We

face difficulties in bringing about sudden changes in ancient cultural

traditions as people have deep faith in them, " said the officials, seeking

anonymity.

 

However, Damodar Subedi, Kaushitoshakhana chief, said the Kaushitoshakhana

would abide by the government's directive.

 

Posted on: 2008-09-19 20:54:01 (Server Time)

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Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Bagdol, Patan, Nepal

Wijk 4-47, 8321 GE Urk, Holland