By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 22: Dashain is one of biggest festivals celebrated by Hindus, which started from October 15. Thousands of animals including buffaloes, he-goats, sheep, pigs, ducks and cocks are sacrificed in the festival time. Slaughtering of animals has been considered an important ritual. Almost all the temples, especially the Durga and Kali temples, witness thousands of sacrifices.   

The mass sacrificial ceremony is specially organised at the Taleju Temple of Hanumandhoka of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur as offering to the goddess during Maha Ashtami and Maha Nawami. To sacrifice animals in mass during Dashain festival, Pension Management Office (PMO) and Guthi Sansthan have provided four-legged and two-legged animals to sacrifice at several shrines across the nation.    

As per the tradition, PMO manages 162 he-buffaloes and 187 he-goats to sacrifice during the 15-day Dashain festival. Mass sacrificial ceremony is organised at the Mul Chowk of Hanumandhoka, and the other shrine of Taleju Bhawani. From the day of Ghatasthapana to Maha Nawami, he-goats are sacrificed every day, with total nine he-goats sacrificed during the period. 

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, similar mass sacrificial ceremony is organised offering 54 he-goats, and 54 he-buffaloes. Around 60 to 65 four-legged and two-legged animals are provided to sacrifice at several other shrines.  

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

PMO allocates the budget to buy 54 he-buffaloes, 54 he-goats and 54-ducks to sacrifice for Taleju Bhawani of Hanumandhoka, said Sandeep Khanal, executive director of Hanumandhoka Palace Museum Development Committee.  

Bhaktapur-based Taleju Temple with other shrines are provided with 37 he–buffaloes, 86 he–goats, 29 ducks and two hens while one he-buffalo and 46 he-goats are provided for Lalitpur Taleju Bhawani and other goddesses. 

In Pashupati area, government provides 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 to sacrifice to Kavrepalanchowk Bhagawati, Chandi and other temples. Moreover, eight he-goats are provided at Janakpur to offer sacrifice at Jaleshwor, Fuleshwor Mai, Rajdevi and other temples. 

Sharada Prasad Bhattari, main priest of Gorkha Durbar, said that the government has cut the budget to sacrifice animals this year. “There is a programme to sacrifice 75 animals including 16 he-buffaloes, 36 he-goats, 10 sheep, eight chickens, and five pigs.”

Animal sacrifices, as well as the sacrifice of foodgrains and various other items, are considered an important part of worship in several religions including Hinduism. And, during Dashain, animals like male goats and buffaloes are sacrificed at various temples and shrines in Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the country.

Animal sacrifices are not mandatory in Hinduism, though, and people may also offer Winter Melon, Stone Apple, Sponge Gourd, Coconut, Rice Pudding or Selroti to their goddesses.