World famous Gadhimai Temple
A fair is held once every five years at Gadhimai Devi place in Bara district of neighboring country Nepal. In this, 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh animals are sacrificed. This time, Sashastra Seema Bal and the local administration worked day and night to save the animals. According to the information, this time in the fair which lasted for 15 days, 4200 buffaloes were sacrificed in just two days on 8th and 9th December. At the same time, due to the vigilance of the administration, at least 750 animals have been saved, which include buffaloes, sheep, goats and other animals. These animals have been sent to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Reliance Group in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The fair organized every five years at the world famous Gadhimai Temple located in Gadhimai Municipal Corporation in Bara district was inaugurated by the Vice President of Nepal Ram Sahay Yadav on 2nd December. This fair continued till 15 December. A special puja took place on 8th December and after that, people whose vows were fulfilled sacrificed animals and birds as per their vow.
What is the belief related to bloody tradition?
There is a belief related to this bloody tradition that Lord Chaudhary, the founder of Gadhimai temple, had a dream that Mata was asking for sacrifice to free him from jail. After this the priest sacrificed the animal. Since then, people come here with their wishes and sacrifice animals. It is said that this festival of Gadhimai has been happening for 265 years. Nepal’s Supreme Court had ordered to stop animal sacrifice in 2019. Experts say that people offer sacrifices at the temple of Gadhimai when their wishes are fulfilled. The largest number of sacrifices in the world take place in this temple. Most animals are bought for sacrifice.
Name in Guinness Book of World Records
The Gadhimai fair has registered its name in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest mass sacrifice ritual. Here first of all 5100 animals coming from Dom Raj of Varanasi are sacrificed. The fair lasts for about 15 days and is attended by devotees from Nepal and India. Around five lakh devotees arrive every day.
Protests taking place in India
Apart from Nepal, crores of devotees from many countries including Bhutan, Bangladesh and India visit this fair. Voices have been raised against the practice of sacrifice in many countries of the world. In India too, voices have started being raised against this sacrificial practice. In India, animal smugglers become active regarding this. This matter has also reached the Supreme Court of Nepal. In the year 2019, the court had refused to immediately ban animal sacrifice but said in the order that animal sacrifice should be gradually reduced during the Gadhimai fair. However, the court had said that it is related to religious beliefs, hence the religious sentiments of the people associated with it cannot be hurt.
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