Activism

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WWC Campaign details...

Can you imagine a live goat being thrown in a pond and torn apart by young men? Can you picture 7,000 young buffaloes being rounded up and killed by a thousand drunk men carrying khukuri knives? A festival where 200,000 animals are killed to please a goddess? Public beheading of countless young buffaloes and goats carried out by government and army?

Perhaps you cannot. However, events such as these take place regularly in Nepal, a country where animal sacrifice is an important ritual to the majority of the Hindu population. In 1780, Nepal outlawed human sacrifice. Animals, however, are allowed to be killed to satisfy the goddess Kali, and for other ceremonies. Mass sacrifice takes place during different festivals, especially in Terai districts.

Not everyone agrees to these practices. In fact, during Dasain, the largest Nepalese festival during which hundreds of thousands animals are killed, the media, religious leaders and the public at large increasingly speaks out against animal sacrifice.

Our aim is to make the public aware of these events, to raise awareness about alternatives and ultimately to try to prevent cruelty conducted in the name of culture or religion.

Targeted Festivals...

Hindu: Nepal is probably the only country in the world where the government annually sacrifices hundreds of live animals during Chaite and Kalratri Dasain. During Kalrati, in Taleju Temple, the government publicly behead 54 buffaloes and 54 he-goats, followed by the killing of 108 buffaloes by the Nepal Army. The event draws many devotees and is screened on national Television. At the same time in the royal palace in Gurkha 108 buffaloes are being beheaded. This marks the start of mass sacrifice by the people; it is estimated that hundred of thousands of goats are being sacrificed during Dasain as well as an unknown number of buffaloes, ducks, chicken, birds, etc. Nepalese kill animals to sanctify weddings, new homes or religious festivals. Upon purchasing a new car or truck, the owner sometimes splashes its exterior with fresh animal blood, to ensure the vehicle doesn't crash whenever it is driven. Many times, pooja is merely symbolic -- an offering of butter, yogurt, money or flowers. When an animal is to be sacrificed, however, it should be an uncastrated male which is killed, apparently as a display of life's potency. This death to please the gods is also interpreted as doing the animal a favor by releasing it from a life of suffering, amid hopes that it may be reborn as a much more fortunate human. Nepal's Buddhists and animists also occasionally perform animal sacrifices.

Gadimai: The Gadimai Mela takes place every five years in Bariyarpur, Bara district, in the south of Nepal and is scheduled for Kartik (October-November) this year. The fair is infamous for the large number of animals (up to 200.000) which are sacrificed to appease the Gadimai goddess. The fair reaches its climax on an ‘auspicious’ day, when thousands of buffaloes are sacrificed. The blood letting that takes place turns the entire area into a marshy land of blood. It is expected that this year some 60.000 young he-buffaloes will be killed, as well as an additional 140.000 chicken, goats, pigs, birds and other poultry. The first ritual during Gadimai is to worship the weapons which are used in the sacrifice. The priests chant different hymns to appease the Goddess Gadimai. Once the pre-sacrificial rituals end the animals are brought in for the kill. The sacrifice starts with the offering of five different animals: pig, buffalo, goat, wild rats and birds which include chicken and pigeon. The different animals represent the mental obscurations sacrificed by the community including anger, stupidity and desire. After the sacrifice of the first animal, a goat, thousands of pigeons are sacrificed by severing their heads. Next three wild rats are brought and sacrificed before a comb like pole. After this more than 250 people carrying naked swords and axes wrapped in red clothes, all with a license to kill, approach the temple. They frantically rush towards the field where more than 7,000 young buffaloes are kept. Before the beasts are slaughtered, seven buffaloes tied to a pole undergo the sacrificial ritual. In the end, only the heads of those gentle animals who were alive just a few moments ago, remain. More info on the Gadimai Festival can be found at www.geocities.com/stopsacrifice

Sasarimaiko: The Sasarimaiko Mela in Mahottari which is held every twelve years and witnesses the killing of 10,000 animals. Both Terai festivals have been ‘transferred’ from India, possibly during the 11th century, and therefore are not indigenous celebrations of Nepalese culture.

Khokanana: Khokana festival is held every year in August, the day after Gai Jatra. A 5-6 month old goat is thrown in a pond close to Rudrayani temple in Khokana, a village in the south of Kathmandu Valley. Nine young men enter the pond and start to tear the goat apart by grasping its legs, ears, hoof or tail. The one who manages to kill the goat is the ‘hero’ and leads the Shinkali dance which is held afterwards. Khokana residents have witnessed the barbaric scene year in year out and think it provides religious merit. It is not clear why and when the cruel goat-killing was introduced. Locals believe that when children started to drown in the pond in the 12th century, residents started to drown a live goat to appease the gods. However, there is evidence showing that devotees in former times offered fruits and flowers in the temple and that the act with the struggling goat was introduced to create a spectacle.

What Can You Do?

There are a number of things you do. You can sign our petition or send a letter to express your concern to the Nepalese authorities (see Petitions).

Or you can draft a petition and have friends sign, and hand over to your local authorities and/or media.

Tips for promoting Worship Without Cruelty

When you live inside Nepal:

• Visit political, business and social leaders and raise the issue. If you need more information on how to do this, send us a mail.
• If you are a student, borrow the documentary on the Gadimai Festival from our office, and organise a screening and discussion.
• Write letters to the editors of local newspapers.
• Sign up to our yahoogroup so you can receive regular information about animal welfare issues in Nepal.

When you live outside Nepal:

• If you travel to Nepal please don't travel with tour companies who organise tours to temples where animals are sacrificed.
• While in Nepal rise the issue during your discussions with those you meet.
• In your own country if you meet any Nepalese or have Nepalese friends ask them what they are doing to stop animal sacrifices in Nepal.
• Please do write to the Nepalese Embassy in your country, to the Nepalese Government and Nepalese media to enact laws to stop these extreme practices.
• Sign up to our yahoogroup so you can receive regular information about animal welfare issues in Nepal.