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Why don’t stop animal sacrifice

Animal sacrifice in Durga puja strikes no less shock and anger among many organizations and individuals across the state

Dozens of buffalos and goats are being sacrificed in many temples in the name of Durga puja from Tuesday. A glimpse of the buffalos, goats, ducks and pigeons being kept for sacrifice at the historic Kamakhya temple premises really shocks the animal lovers. Same it is in many places where the same shocking tradition is allowed in Durga Puja.

 “We are helpless. We have been dead opposed to the tradition of animal sacrifice. But the organizers have been refusing to read our campaign. This is a matter of grave concern,” said Shailen Saikia from Sivasagar district who has been campaigning against animal sacrifice.

Juli Chutia from Kakojan area in Jorhat told Assam Times that the people must understand the reality. “The things have undergone a sea change now. Everywhere change reigns supreme. But we don’t understand why we are still stick to this tradition. Our minds need to be changed.”

“It would take time to end the tradition of animal sacrifice. If 1000 buffalos and 5000 goats were sacrificed ten years ago, now 50 buffalos and 100 goats are being sacrificed,” said Pranjal Bora from Nagaon.

Bora who is running a non governmental organization told Assam Times over telephone that a massive campaign is the need of the hour against animal sacrifice which has yet to take place. “The campaign should have taken place at least 3 months before the commencement of the Durga puja. People from the nook and corner of the state should be aware of it. But I do hope that after 20 years the tradition of animal sacrifice would die down,” he said. 

 

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Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org

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amlesh's picture

I think it is time to do away with animal sacrifice. It is a barbaric practise.It should stop both for hindu festivals as well as for other religions like for bakrid.  
Jaishankar Babu's picture

About 150 years back it was a 'religious custom' in India to force widows to get burnt on their husband's funeral pyre (Sati) today we consider it a barbaric tradition. Similarly, years from now, our future generations will look back at us and call us barbaric. A god who wants the blood of an innocent animal to satisfy him/her cannot be called a god. It can only be a devil/demon. Rather the people who sacrifice animals (be it Bakr Id or Durga Pooja) are devils who sully the name of their god with their crime of killing innocent animals.

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