Mass Slaughter of Thousands of Animals in Festival Ritual, a Horrific Bloodbath, Continues

Animal rights activists are sounding alarms over the recent Gadhimai festival in Nepal, where, as claimed by Humane Society International India (HSI), more than 4,200 buffaloes and thousands of goats and pigeons were reportedly sacrificed. The event, which occurs every five years in Bariyarpur village near the Nepal-India border, has drawn widespread criticism, with advocates decrying the mass slaughter as an “appalling bloodbath.”

The Gadhimai festival has long been rooted in tradition, where participants believe that sacrificing animals honors the Goddess Gadhimai and bestows wishes or good fortune upon them. Festivities reportedly extend to celebrating the birth of sons, perpetuating a cycle of animal killing deeply embedded in community customs.

Despite a 2016 ruling by Nepal’s Supreme Court aimed at phasing out the practice, activists allege that little progress has been made. Shyam Prasad Yadav, the mayor of Gadhimai, refuted claims of excessive slaughter, asserting that officials are collaborating with temple authorities to begin limiting sacrifices. “That’s why the sacrifice this year was limited,” he said, despite conflicting reports about the scale of the event.

Participants, including 20-year-old Upendra Kushwaha, expressed a vehement commitment to their ancestral practices, insisting that such sacrifices are indispensable for safety and goodwill. “This is part of our culture, it’s our tradition, they will never be able to stop it,” Kushwaha stated, reflecting a broader community sentiment resistant to external pressures from animal rights groups.

Animal rights groups, however, have voiced their horror over the scene. Arkaprava Bhar, an HSI representative who witnessed the sacrifices, described it as “the most horrific thing” he has ever seen, characterizing the event as a “massacre.” The presence of butchers, working in rows to slaughter animals with an apparent lack of compassion, only intensified the emotional weight of the incident.

HSI India reported that police were dispatched for crowd control purposes, reflecting tensions surrounding the festival. Historically, the numbers of animals killed have decreased from previous festivals, where as many as half a million animals reportedly died. But this year’s estimates provoke concerns about a resurgence of killings, despite ongoing activism against the slaughter.

Volunteers and local activists are attempting to sway community perspectives. Shristi Bhandari, executive director of Jane Goodall Institute Nepal, noted some shift in attitudes, indicating that some community members are becoming receptive to alternative forms of sacrifice, such as monetary donations. “This is a major step, it took years and years of campaigning to get here,” Bhandari remarked, suggesting that education efforts may be bearing fruit.

Efforts to intercept transported animals at the border have been met with varying degrees of success. Activists have reportedly rescued over 750 animals, pulling them from trucks and other vehicles as they were allegedly smuggled to the festival. “The suffering these animals endure is so upsetting and so unnecessary,” Bhar lamented.

Despite these interventions, the porous border conditions pose significant challenges to stopping illegal animal trade. Sneha Shrestha, president of the Federation of Animal Welfare of Nepal, underscored the limitations of activist efforts, noting that without a ban on slaughter in Nepal, the movement against such practices can only rely on dialogue and persuasion. “No animal should die in the name of religion or tradition,” she asserted.

As the festival’s aftermath reverberates, it remains to be seen whether the pressure from activists will lead to a lasting transformation in practices tied to ancient traditions, or whether the fervor of cultural beliefs will overpower calls for reform.