NP: AFP - Campaign to stop mass animal sacrifice in Nepal

[Guest guest]

*Campaign to stop mass animal sacrifice in Nepal*

**

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gVqEIKd7e8pODGGvqsmH9mLYRGbA

By Deepesh Shrestha (AFP) – 8 hours ago

 

KATHMANDU — Every five years a temple in southern Nepal plays host to an

extraordinary religious festival in which hundreds of thousands of animals

are sacrificed to the Hindu goddess of power Gadhimai.

 

For two days, the tiny village of Bariyapur near Nepal's border with India

flows with blood as thousands of Hindu devotees flock to the temple to take

part in what organisers believe is the world's biggest ritual slaughter.

 

Many travel from neighbouring India for the festival, which has been running

uninterrupted for around three centuries and is due to take place on

November 24 and 25.

 

But this year, a group of animal rights activists is campaigning to stop

what it says is senseless cruelty to innocent creatures -- pitting

themselves against Hindu devotees in this deeply religious nation.

 

" We launched our campaign to put a stop to the gruesome killing of animals

in the name of God, " said Pramada Shah, director of campaign group Animal

Nepal which has launched an online petition demanding the festival be

cancelled.

 

" Even in the 21st century, innocent animals are facing cruel treatment due

to people's superstition. "

 

The campaign received a local boost when it won the support of Ram Bahadur

Bomjam, a young Nepalese man believed by followers to be a reincarnation of

Buddha after supporters said he could survive without water, food or sleep.

 

Bomjam, dubbed " Buddha Boy " by Nepalese media, has spent the past year

meditating in the jungle near Bariyapur, but last week broke his silence to

condemn the festival.

 

" Human beings have turned brutal by offering animal sacrifices to the

goddess. This practice must be stopped now, " he reportedly told local media.

 

Bomjam's supporters have organised their own campaign to put a stop to the

festival, distributing pamphlets in the area and in Indian towns on the

border urging people not to take part.

 

One reason for the event's huge popularity is its proximity to India, where

some states have now banned sacrificial slaughter.

 

" In India today there is greater awareness about animal sacrifice and

suffering, so people and rights activists are against it, " said N.G.

Jayasimha, campaign manager for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

in India.

 

" Some states have banned animal slaughter even for religious purposes --

including Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. So all these factors

contribute to the numbers going to Nepal. "

 

But animal rights campaigners face an uphill struggle in Nepal, where Hindus

make up 80 percent of the population and where ritual sacrifice is a part of

everyday life.

 

Local authorities said they would increase security surrounding the

festival, which begins with the sacrifice of two wild rats, a rooster, a

pig, a goat and a lamb before the temple's statue of Gadhimai.

 

Devotees can then bring their animals into the temple for ritual

purification before taking them into the grounds where they will have their

throats slit. The meat is distributed and eaten.

 

Nepal's government has already pledged 4.5 million rupees (60,000 dollars)

in funding for the festival and authorities say they have no power to stop

it going ahead.

 

The temple's head priest, Mangal Chaudhary Tharu, told AFP 800,000 people

attended the festival in 2004, when about 400,000 sacrifices were made, and

he said he expected more people to come this year.

 

" Nepal's security situation has improved and we are expecting a larger

turnout this year, " said Tharu, the fourth generation of his family to serve

as a priest for the festival, whose origins have never been documented.

 

" We are not forcing devotees to sacrifice animals. It is an age-old practice

and it must continue.

 

" The festival will lose its charm and become meaningless if we break with

tradition. "

 

AFP. All rights reserved. More

»<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/copyright?hl=en>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

May be one can also expose how the money is being utilized in this festival.

Nothing personal - but most such festivities that involve big money (in

their respective country) will mean some people make a few quick bucks. This

exposure can act as a deterrent and can be given a " business " oriented event

rather than something spiritual.

 

Health related issues can also be given undue importance in this case and

could also work against this festival. Notices can be distributed or printed

in papers.

 

If there are any old stories/ talks that has come down the generation about

the ill effects of killing animals can be brought to the limelight. Because

someone going ahead with something as ridiculous as this might as well give

a thought to an ancient saying/ thought.

 

Well I am not saying that by doing this, out of the 800000, 700000 will

refrain from attending..... but even if 500 did....we can translate it as

500 animals less going through that torture. So why not give it a shot!!!

 

Thanks, Pablo.

 

On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 4:40 PM, lucia de vries <luciadevrieswrote:

 

> *Campaign to stop mass animal sacrifice in Nepal*

> **

>

>

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gVqEIKd7e8pODGGvqsmH9mLYRGbA

> By Deepesh Shrestha (AFP) – 8 hours ago

>

> KATHMANDU — Every five years a temple in southern Nepal plays host to an

> extraordinary religious festival in which hundreds of thousands of animals

> are sacrificed to the Hindu goddess of power Gadhimai.

>

> For two days, the tiny village of Bariyapur near Nepal's border with India

> flows with blood as thousands of Hindu devotees flock to the temple to take

> part in what organisers believe is the world's biggest ritual slaughter.

>

> Many travel from neighbouring India for the festival, which has been

> running

> uninterrupted for around three centuries and is due to take place on

> November 24 and 25.

>

> But this year, a group of animal rights activists is campaigning to stop

> what it says is senseless cruelty to innocent creatures -- pitting

> themselves against Hindu devotees in this deeply religious nation.

>

> " We launched our campaign to put a stop to the gruesome killing of animals

> in the name of God, " said Pramada Shah, director of campaign group Animal

> Nepal which has launched an online petition demanding the festival be

> cancelled.

>

> " Even in the 21st century, innocent animals are facing cruel treatment due

> to people's superstition. "

>

> The campaign received a local boost when it won the support of Ram Bahadur

> Bomjam, a young Nepalese man believed by followers to be a reincarnation of

> Buddha after supporters said he could survive without water, food or sleep.

>

> Bomjam, dubbed " Buddha Boy " by Nepalese media, has spent the past year

> meditating in the jungle near Bariyapur, but last week broke his silence to

> condemn the festival.

>

> " Human beings have turned brutal by offering animal sacrifices to the

> goddess. This practice must be stopped now, " he reportedly told local

> media.

>

> Bomjam's supporters have organised their own campaign to put a stop to the

> festival, distributing pamphlets in the area and in Indian towns on the

> border urging people not to take part.

>

> One reason for the event's huge popularity is its proximity to India, where

> some states have now banned sacrificial slaughter.

>

> " In India today there is greater awareness about animal sacrifice and

> suffering, so people and rights activists are against it, " said N.G.

> Jayasimha, campaign manager for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

> in India.

>

> " Some states have banned animal slaughter even for religious purposes --

> including Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. So all these factors

> contribute to the numbers going to Nepal. "

>

> But animal rights campaigners face an uphill struggle in Nepal, where

> Hindus

> make up 80 percent of the population and where ritual sacrifice is a part

> of

> everyday life.

>

> Local authorities said they would increase security surrounding the

> festival, which begins with the sacrifice of two wild rats, a rooster, a

> pig, a goat and a lamb before the temple's statue of Gadhimai.

>

> Devotees can then bring their animals into the temple for ritual

> purification before taking them into the grounds where they will have their

> throats slit. The meat is distributed and eaten.

>

> Nepal's government has already pledged 4.5 million rupees (60,000 dollars)

> in funding for the festival and authorities say they have no power to stop

> it going ahead.

>

> The temple's head priest, Mangal Chaudhary Tharu, told AFP 800,000 people

> attended the festival in 2004, when about 400,000 sacrifices were made, and

> he said he expected more people to come this year.

>

> " Nepal's security situation has improved and we are expecting a larger

> turnout this year, " said Tharu, the fourth generation of his family to

> serve

> as a priest for the festival, whose origins have never been documented.

>

> " We are not forcing devotees to sacrifice animals. It is an age-old

> practice

> and it must continue.

>

> " The festival will lose its charm and become meaningless if we break with

> tradition. "

>

> AFP. All rights reserved. More

> »<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/copyright?hl=en>

>

>

>