Senseless slaughter or cultural tradition?
November 28, 2009 | Gabrielle Moore
More than 200,000 animals were slaughtered in Nepal this week in a blood-soaked festival that brings a shock of horror to most; but in Nepal, the killing of hundreds of thousands of buffaloes, goats, chickens and pigeons is tradition. The mass slaughter is part of a festival held every five years in Nepal meant to honor Gadhimai, a Hindu goddess of power . Every five years, animal rights activists protest but the festival is defended as a centuries-old tradition. Where should the line be drawn at these festivals? Should it be protected simply because it has been around for so long or outlawed for mistreatment of animals?
On one side of the argument, people understand that this is a well-preserved tradition. Many Nepalis believe that these sacrifices will bring them prosperity and that eating the meat they take back from the slaughter will protect them from evil. According to the AP, more than 200,000 people came to the festival, some bringing their own animals, to celebrate this religious observance.
However, on the other side of the argument are the claims of animal cruelty, and that this is a gross mistreatment of hundreds of thousands of animals. In any situation with such a large amount of animals being killed, it’s hard to fathom that they are being treated right, and the image of slaughterhouses come to mind. According to this article, a Nepali newspaper reported that 150 people fainted from the sight of blood and violence.
Predictably, animal rights activists came from far and wide to protest the mass slaughter. Two Nepal organizations, Animal Welfare Network Nepal and Anti-Animal Sacrifice Alliance called for the government to speak out against the festival. French actress Brigitte Bardot wrote to Nepal’s president pleading with him to stop the mass killings, and spoke out publically against the slaughter.
The animals being sacrificed are all considered livestock, and the meat is eaten and not simply left to waste. However, this is no different from the slaughterhouses vegetarians and many animal rights activists protest against, so where should we draw the line? Would more people protest if the Nepalis were slaughtering dogs, for instance? Many protesters came to the festival with offerings of fruit and flowers, hoping this would catch on, but the slaughter itself is the most central part of the festival and a deeply rooted tradition that will be hard to get rid of.
What do you think? Is the Gadhimai festival animal abuse that should be outlawed or a cultural practice that has to stay in place? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: AP
This is pure animal cruelty. Shame for Nepal and all those people that have killed those poor animals.
I think we should concentrate on reforming our own meat industry and consumption before we get to imposing our beliefs on any other culture. Often times another cultures reason for doing something is beyond the scope of our own understanding.
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