250 animals sacrificed in India temple
Pastor Dale Morgan
250 animals sacrificed in India temple*
Priest unfazed by activists: 'No one has the right to meddle with
people's faith'
--Times of India
KENDRAPADA: The "holy altar" of Panchubaraha temple at Satabhaya village
in Kendrapada's Rajnagar block turned into a virtual pool of blood as
around 250 animals were sacrificed on the occasion of Chatya Purnima on
Monday.
Hundreds of devotees came from nearby villages to watch the "sacred
spectacle" of "slaughter", a custom being observed here for years.
The animals, which included goats, lambs and a buffalo, were lined up
near the sacrificial pole before the mighty stroke of Babaji Dalei's
sword did it all, one after another. But the man was unperturbed. "It's
a divine duty which was passed on to me after my father died 20 years
ago," he said.
"It's been a family tradition for generations. In the past, devotees
would offer buffaloes. But now, not many can afford the big animal and
settle for goats and lambs," said Dalei.
Cries of the dying animals drowned in the din of the thronging
believers. Some scrambled to touch the flowing blood of the
freshly-sacrificed and smear their forehead with it. It's an act, which
they believe, will bring good luck. And by the time, the ``sacrifice''
was over, it was time to trudge back home, carrying a carcass or two on
a bamboo pole.
Many of the devotees came by crossing the Bausagard river on
``unsteady'' boats. So for boatman Sankar Kandi, who "ferried some 2,000
people" on Monday, it was quite a busy but rewarding day. ``I earned
about Rs 2,000 and that's pretty decent,'' he said.
Despite protests by animal lovers and social activists, Dhani Sauti, a
priest at the temple, was unmoved. "It's an old tradition. From time
immemorial, devotees have been sacrificing animals in the temple on
Chatya Purnima and Saptami during Dussehra. No one has the right to
meddle with people's faith," he said.
"Why doesn't the administration take steps when hundreds of goats,
chickens and other animals are butchered in public places day in and day
out? Instead of stopping animal sacrifice in temples, the administration
should end cow slaughter,'' the priest added.