A fair is held every five years at the Gadhimai Devi place in Bara district of neighboring Nepal. In the process, between 250,000 and 500,000 animals are slaughtered. This time, Sashastra Seema Bal and the local administration are working day and night to save the animals. It is understood that during this 15-day market, 4,200 buffaloes were slaughtered on December 8 and 9 alone. At the same time, due to the government’s vigilance, at least 750 animals have been rescued, including buffaloes, sheep, goats and other animals. The animals have been sent to the Reliance Group Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The exhibition, held every five years at the world-famous Gadhimai Temple in Gadhimai Municipal Corporation, Bara district, was inaugurated on December 2 by Vice President of Nepal Ram Sahay Yadav . The exhibition lasts until December 15th. A special puja was held on December 8, after which those who fulfilled their vows sacrificed animals and birds in accordance with their vows.
What are the beliefs associated with the bloody tradition?
There is a belief associated with this bloody tradition that Lord Chowdhury, the founder of the Gadhimai Temple, had a dream in which Mata asked for a sacrifice to free him from prison. Thereafter, the animal is sacrificed by the priest. From then on, people came here with their own wishes and sacrificed animals. It is said that this Gadhimai festival has been held for 265 years. Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered an end to animal sacrifice in 2019. Experts say that when people’s wishes are fulfilled, people perform sacrifices at the Gadhimai Temple. The largest number of ritual activities in the world are held in this temple. Most animals were bought for sacrifice.
Name in the Guinness Book of World Records
The Gadhimai Bazaar has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest mass worship ceremony. First, 5,100 animals from Dom Raj in Varanasi were slaughtered. The rally lasted for about 15 days and was attended by believers from Nepal and India. About half a million devotees arrive every day.
Protests in India
In addition to Nepal, tens of millions of devotees from various countries such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India visited the expo. In many countries around the world, there is opposition to the practice of sacrifice. In India, some people have also begun to oppose this sacrificial practice. In India, animal traffickers are very active. The matter has also reached the Supreme Court of Nepal. In 2019, the court refused to immediately ban animal sacrifices but said in its order that animal sacrifices should be gradually reduced during the Gadhimai fair. However, the court stated that the case was related to religious beliefs and the religious feelings of the parties should not be hurt.
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