Kathmandu: Despite appeals to halt the
centuries-old custom of animal sacrifice, Gadhimai festival
on Tuesday started in southern Nepal with millions of devotees
flocking from various parts of the country and India.
People today queued up for worshipping Gadhimai, known as
the Goddess of Power, as early as 2.45 am, eye-witnesses said.
Amid tight security, Nepalese Health Minister Umakanta
Chaudhari reached the 260-year-old temple at 2 am and took
part in the worship, according to a local radio.
It is estimated that some 35,000 to 40,000 buffaloes,
which are brought mostly from India, for the world's largest
ritual sacrifice at the temple.
French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot
has sent a letter to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, asking him
to stop animal sacrifice at the festival.
"I personally find it hard to imagine that your heart can
withstand such cruelty, knowing that you, being the head of
the country, are ultimately responsible," she wrote.
India's noted animal right activist Maneka Gandhi had
also written a letter to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal
appealing him to stop the sacrifice.
Meanwhile, Animal Welfare Network Nepal and Anti-Animal
Sacrifice Alliance has written to head priest Mangal Chaudhary
and organising committee chief Shiva Chandra Kushwaha to stop
the mass sacrifice.
"We beg you to consider our plea. As the two important
persons you have the ability to show wisdom, compassion and
courage by doing everything to stop the killing of innocent
creatures in the name of the God," the letter said.
The government has, however, remained non-committal on
its role in ending the custom.
We will not interfere in the centuries-old tradition of
the people, an official said.
'Buddha Boy' Ram Bahadur Bomjan has been meditating near
the temple premises to stop the sacrifices, while Tibetan
Buddhist master Lama Zopa Rinpoche had requested all Buddhist
centres and students to read the Golden Sutra and pray for
halting the killing.
The local administration has mobilised some 1100 security
personnel to maintain security and law and order in the area.
Around five million people, 80 per cent from India, will
arrive to observe the festival this time. Some 3,00,000 to
5,00,000 animals will be sacrificed during the two-day
festival.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 08:57