Associated Press Reports on Animal Sacrifice in India

[krsna]

Associated Press Reports on Animal Sacrifice in India

 

Associated Press

 

BHUBANESHWAR, INDIA, October 22, 2004:

 

( *** 35 million animals a year are

killed in US slaughter houses, a rate of 96,000/day -- activity which

does not generate condemnatory articles from the Associated Press.***)

 

Hindu devotees have sacrificed a total of 10,000 buffaloes, goats and

chickens at the altar of a Hindu Goddess in temples across eastern

India over the past two days, an animal rights group said Friday. Amid

a crescendo of drum beats, musical instruments and religious chants,

Hindu devotees dragged the animals to chopping blocks at nearly 300

temples in Orissa state to propitiate Durga - a widely worshipped

warrior-Goddess in the Hindu pantheon. The animal considered most dear

to the Goddess is the buffalo, and Hindus believe the sacrifice helps

to fulfill their wishes. "At least 10,000 animals were chopped to death

on Wednesday and Thursday," said Jeevan Pradip Das, head of People for

Animals, a private group. Friday is the culmination of the Navaratra

(nine nights) festivities, observed as occasions of fasting and prayer

in honor of the Goddess. Das said his group would launch a campaign

six months before the festival next year to persuade people to stop

killing the animals. Many Hindu devotees see nothing wrong with the

slaughter. "It's an age-old tradition and nobody can stop it," said

Bhagirathi Panda. Another, Kapil Maharana, said he didn't believe in

sacrificing animals, but added the ritual was unlikely to stop. "I

personally feel that this tradition should end. But I know it will not

as the majority of people want it to continue," he said. Orissa Law

Minister Harichandan said the state government wants to end the bloody

tradition, but feared public anger. "We want to stop the ritual but

have failed so far as people are very sentimental about this tradition.

We fear revolt by people," said Harichandan, who uses one name. "We

need to explain and persuade the people to end the practice. And we

will do it."

 

[theist]

Washing their sins away and pleasing some god by shedding the blood of some innocent animal. Barbaric.

 

I am glad there is someone speaking out against this. What is ironic is that many meat eaters will be shocked to learn of such things even as they munch away on their hamburgers.