Sad fact: Animal sacrifice common in Nepal even during Buddha Jayanti

May 23, 2008

*Animal sacrifice common during Buddha Jayanti

*

BY BHARAT JARGHAMAGAR

DHODNA (SIRAHA), May 20 - Tuesday marked the 2552nd anniversary of Gautam

Buddha.

However, on the very day of Buddha Purnima, people sacrificed around 4,000

goats and other 5,000 pigeons, ducks and chicken here at a temple on

Tuesday.

Such a tradition, which coincides with " non-violence day " , is a customary

ritual every year here at the Rajdevi Panchawati Temple in Dhodna of the

district, as it is open for such offerings only on this day in the year.

" We've been compelled to offer such sacrifice on Buddha Purnima despite

knowing the relevance of the day, as Goddess Rajdevi receives such offerings

only on this particular day, " said the priest Dambar Bahadur Bhatta.

On Tuesday, many devotees, thronged the temple to offer sacrifice to the

goddess after their wishes were fulfilled.

" I came here to sacrifice a goat after my wish to get at least 150 new

students in my school was fulfilled, " said Jay Narayan Das, principal of

Siddhartha Academy of Lahan of Siraha. According to him, he promised to

sacrifice a goat last year when he had just 30 students.

Similar is the explanation of another Ritudevi, who spent a hefty sum for

treating her disease but to no avail. " I frequented Darbanga (in Bihar,

India) for treatment but it didn't yield any positive results. " According to

her, after she pledged to sacrifice a male goat last year, she began getting

well. " Now I'm completely fit and fine and have come here to honor my

promise. "

Priest Bhatta informed that the tradition of sacrificing animals has been on

since the last ten generations. On the very day last year, over 3,400 goats

and some 4,000 chicken, pigeons and ducks were sacrificed.

Posted on: 2008-05-20 17:54:08 (Server Time)

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