Bhawanipatna, Oct 12: In spite of public awareness campaigns and ban imposed by the Odisha government, people belonging to Hindu community have mercilessly butchered over 50,000 animals and birds to “appease” goddess Manikeswari during the annual “Chhattar Yatra” near the Manikeswari temple, here like previous years.
The district administration had also made fervent appeals to the people to refrain from killing animals and birds. However, the slaughtering continued tillSunday afternoon despite 15 CCTV and drone cameras being installed.
The huge deployment of police personnel also failed to check the slaughter, as most of the locals extended their patronage to the act, arguing that animal sacrifice was a long-practiced religious tradition during Chhattar Yatra, and the government's ban is an infringement of their right to religion.
Since no political parties want to earn the displeasure of the locals, they also don't raise their voice against the practice, nor do they cooperate with the administration's effort to enforce the law.
According to reports, over 1.5 lakh people took part in the annual festival, and had a glimpse of the presiding deity while it was taken out in a procession.
As many as 11 platoons of police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. Besides, 41 sub-inspectors, 15 inspectors, five deputy superintendents of police and one additional SP, were deployed at the festival.
“We had initiated awareness campaigns to prevent animal sacrifice. I believe it will be on the wane due to massive awareness programmest,” Kalahandi SP Brijesh Kumar Rai was quoted as saying.
During the Chhattar Yatra, the goddess is taken in a procession from Jenakhal after Sandhi Puja to Bhawanipatna town, the permanent abode of the deity.
On Sunday, the Chhattar procession took off at around 5.20 am with people making beeline to have a glimpse of the presiding deity. The town reverberated amid the rhythmic beats of Jenabadya, Nisan and Ghanta (traditional musical instruments) and dancers performing Ghumura' and martial art forms.
“We eagerly wait for the festival to participate in it. The people of Kalahandi have immense faith in Maa Manikeswari. We offer sacrifices on fulfillment of our wishes in which people across caste and religion participate in it,” Sudharam Sarap, a devotee.
Before the start of the sacrifice ritual on Asthami tithi of the Hindu month of Ashwina every year, two swords belonging to the goddess are washed in the pond located behind the palace. The swords are then worshipped and brought back to the temple in a procession. Then a buffalo is sacrificed at the Budharaja or Vairab temple, a satellite shrine of the Manikeswari temple.
Following this ritual, the Chhattar or umbrella of the goddess, along with two swords of the deity, are taken out for the procession.
Comments
Where our beloved maa lovers and nationalists......
Muslims sacrifice animals In the name of the world's creator and consume it as food with respect.....these people sacrifice in the names of story book characters and dump them as waste....so which is cruel......
This is not hinduism. If this is hinduism then i think. Islam is better religion. They don't sacrifice to please god. As per true indian. What he said is true. I gone through quran app just now. And god says he only feed and he is not fed.
Many hindus including my self eat kfc. It DOESN'T please God.
If they continue like this. Then many hindus will convert to Muslim.
Every year hindu population is decreasing and muslim population is increasing. May be this is the reason.
VERY BAD.
god does not need anything from us.
Love, live and let live.
In Nepal, infamous Gadhimai temple sacrifice has banned completely by people. Now we have to be caring for all the living beings on earth.
Where is gavrakshakas their aim is to target minorities
WHY GOD NEEDS BLOOD. THEY EVEN KILL YOUNG KIDS TO PLEASE GOD. DISGUSTING.
Quran 6:14 He who feeds and is not fed?
Best way of life Islam.
OH my god..Bajarangdal / RSS / VHP / RAMASENE / & 100 many more Hindu wrong wings sleeping or RIP. Oh yeah political game. maneka gandhi / and many more on vacation it seems.
OH What about Arnab Cow Swamy. Still at large
Where is Maneka Gandhi, is she sleeping.....
Add new comment