Goddess leads devotees in vegetarian sacrifice

Kathmandu, October 7, 2010 – Today the goddess Kali demonstrated a group of fifty devotees how to sacrifice in a Symbolic Puja at Dakchhinkali Temple. “I do not need animal blood. I am happy with fruits and vegetables so please offer me vegetarian sacrifices,” the blue-tongued goddess said before slashing a pumpkin into half.

The devotees, a gathering of social and animal rights campaigners, followed the fierce looking goddess Kali (played by actor Durga from Shilpee Theater) in sacrificing pumpkins and coconuts, in a ritual that according to the campaigners has a firm basis in the country’s ancient traditions.

The puja was organized by AWNN as part of a novel campaign against animal sacrifices that take place during Dasain festival.

Earlier this year AWNN launched a 5-year campaign against animal sacrifice and cruel sports. The homegrown movement was born during Gadhimai festival which saw the killing of some 200,000 animals in the span of 24 hours in November 2009. The campaign is supported by a growing number of spiritual and society leaders, including the well known comedian duo MAHA.

The network is requesting the President, Prime Minister, army and police to cancel state funded animal sacrifices during Dasain. “Nepal is the world’s key implementers of animal sacrifice, a practice that promotes superstition and violence, drains the poor and prevents Nepal from becoming a truly advanced country. Decapitating a bleating buffalo or goat should not be the symbol of the Nepali civilization,” AWNN urges.

AWNN also argues that a vegetarian diet improves people’s health and helps to save the planet. It is believed that 90% of random meat samples in Kathmandu are contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella. As a result, the majority of typhoid cases in city dwellers are caused by infected meat.

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Campaigners oppose animal cruelty at Khokana festival

Kathmandu, August 25, 2010 – The Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN) has requested the organizing committee and VDC of Khokana to develop an alternative for the cruel ritual involving the tearing apart of a baby goat in a pond. Khokana festival will be celebrated tomorrow on August 26.

During the festival a 4-6 months old she-goat is thrown into a pond where nine young men, one from each ward, attack it and bite it to death. The one who ultimately kills the goat is named the ‘hero’ and leads a dance procession. Khokana VDC sponsors the festival by contributing around NRs 100,000.

Seven animal welfare organizations coordinated by AWNN have send letters to the organizing committee and Village Development Committee requesting them to introduce alternatives. “The festival will have so much more appeal when no animal cruelty takes place. Khokana can actually taking a leading role in introducing non-violent rituals which will appeal to everyone, including children and tourists,” says Mahesh Sharma, Campaign Coordinator at AWNN.

According to AWNN the ritual started when people accidentally drowned in the pond. At first fruits and vegetables were offered and when this was not effective, a baby goat was drown. “Only since a few years the ritual has turned into a ‘blood sport’, in which youth are encouraged to bite a live animal to death,” says Sharma.

AWNN argues that the present Khokana festival is not part of Nepal’s heritage, religion or culture. Sharma: “Rituals that involve extreme cruelty generally have been introduced to attract more visitors and business. These are controversial developments as many community members are in fact against them. Community events and pujas should be a harmonizing, enjoyable experience for all members, including children. Introducing alternative, non-violent forms of sacrifice rituals will re-establish festivals as meaningful, fun and positive experiences.”

AWNN earlier this year launched a 5-year campaign against blood sacrifices and cruel sports. According to the campaigners animal sacrifices harm society as a whole as it signals and normalizes insensitivity in children who can become numb to the suffering of living beings, and it is also known to influence certain people to commit violence on other humans. “Now that the armed conflict has ended Nepal needs peaceful practices that educate the next generation for a harmonious society,” AWNN says.

For more information about the campaign go to www.stopanimalsacrifice.org

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