Animal sacrifice integral part of Dashain rituals

Kathmandu, Sept. 29: People visit several Shakit Peeths during the Navaratri to worship and pay homage to several manifestations of goddess Durga. 

Besides the worship, the mass sacrificial ceremony is specially organised at the Taleju Temple of Hanuman Dhoka of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur to offer to the goddess during Maha Ashtami and Maha Nawami.  

Pension Management Office (PMO) and Guthi Sansthan have provided four-legged and two-legged animals to be sacrificed in the name of goddesses across the nation. 

As per the tradition, PMO manages 162 he-buffaloes and 187 he-goats every year to sacrifice during the 15-day Dashain festival in several Shakti Peeths. 

According to the PMO, a mass sacrificial ceremony is organised at the Mul Chowk of Hanumandhoka, then in other areas of Taleju Bhawani. 

On Maha Nawami day, eight he-goats are sacrificed in the morning during special worship time and 54 he-goats, 54 he-buffaloes and a duck are sacrificed in the evening. 

On the day of Chaturdashi, the same mass sacrificial ceremony is organsied, offering 54 he-goats, and 54 he-buffaloes. 

As per the PMO, around 60 to 65 four-legged and two-legged animals are provided to be sacrificed at several other goddess temples.  

It has allocated Rs. 120 million each year to manage animals throughout the year. 

PMO provides 17 he-goats, seven he-buffaloes and 18 ducks for the mass sacrificial ceremony at Nuwakot Palace during Ashtami and Nawami days, said Shrestha.

Kajiman Pyakurel, Executive Director of Hanumandhoka Durbar Museum Development Committee (HDMDC), said that this year, Phulpati rituals will be organised on Monday, the eighth day of the Dashain festival. 

A member from Sarduljung Company and HDMC will depart for Gorkha on Monday morning to bring a palanquin with Phulpati, which will enter Hanumandhoka the same evening, he said. 

Hari Prasad Subedi, spokesperson of Central Guthi Santhan, stated that Guthi Sansthan has allocated a budget and has managed animals, as in previous years, to carry out mass sacrificial ceremonies at several Shakti Peeths across the country.

A total of 50 he-buffaloes, 14 ducks and 24 sheep are provided by the Rajguhti for Taleju Bhagawati of Hanumandhoka. 

Bhaktapur-based Taleju Temple, along with other Shakti Peeths, has been provided 37 he- buffaloes, 86 he–goats, 29 ducks and two hens. Likewise, one he-buffalo and 46 he-goats are provided to Lalitpur Taleju Bhagawati and other goddesses. 

For the Pashupati area, it has provided 12 he-goats, four he-buffaloes and eight ducks to sacrifice at Guheshwori, Rameshwori, Kulanandajha, along with other temples. 

In Kavrepalanchowk, 10 he-goats, eight he-buffaloes, three sheep, eight ducks and 13 hens are provided for sacrifice to Kavrepalanchowk Bhagawati, along with other temples. 

Moreover, eight he-goats are provided to Janakpur to offer sacrifice at Rajdevi, Jaleshwor, Fuleshwor Mai and other temples. 

Guthi Sansthan is provided Rs. 84 million every year to manage puja items and buy four-legged and two-legged animals. During Dashain, animals like goats and buffaloes are sacrificed at various temples and shrines in Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the country.