Journalism of Courage
Even as animal rights groups continued their campaign against animal sacrifice,the number of animals,including buffaloes and goats,being sacrificed has significantly shot up across Assam except in Kamakhya temple,said to be the original home of Goddess Durga.
In the 600-year-old Bilveswar Temple in Nalbari district,for instance,the number of buffaloes offered for sacrifice on Mahanavami on Wednesday was 34,which was 13 more than last year. While 32 buffaloes were sacrificed and their severed heads placed at the altar of the goddess of shakti,two animals were let off after the ceremonial puja.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of people offering sacrifice of animals and birds,and one reason is the rampant corruption in society,” said Sangita Goswami,who heads the Assam chapter of People For Animals (PFA) leading the campaign to put an end to animal sacrifice in the name of religion,especially during Durga Puja.
“The cost of a young buffalo is anywhere between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000. Can any person who has not indulged in corruption go for such an offering?” she asked.
Goswami,who also wrote President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to initiate action,said it was the state government that should be held responsible for failing to arrest the “barbaric and medieval” act.
However,Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said “I personally do not support animal sacrifice”. “But if individuals do so in the name of tradition and religious rites,we cannot do anything much,” he added.
