The Hindu : Animals saved from ritual slaughter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 08, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Animals saved from ritual slaughter

By Our Special Correspondent

GADAG, FEB. 7. The perseverance of a journalist and the active interest taken by some others interested in the welfare of animals helped prevent the ritual slaughter of thousands of animals at Bommasagar village in Ron taluk of Gadag district.

Last Wednesday, thousands of buffaloes, sheep, and chicken were to be sacrificed during a jatra as part of an annual ritual to propitiate the Goddess Durgadevi. During the jatra, devotees slaughter animals, break coconuts, and offer fruits to the deity. However, the concerted efforts of animal lovers helped prevent the slaughter this time without sparking off protests from devotees.

Bommasagar, which is located in the interiors of Ron taluk, has a population of about 2,000 (the famous pilgrimage centre of Badami is nearby). The jatra of the Goddess Durgadevi, which is organised in the second week of the Hindu month of Magha, attracts a large number of devotees, mainly dalits, from about 50 villages in Gadag, Bagalkot, and Koppal districts. Each family, by tradition, brings an animal for sacrifice or buys one.

Although the animal sacrifice was known to politicians, the police, and the administration, no action had been taken to prevent it.

This year's jatra would also have witnessed slaughter but for the interest taken by Mallikarjun Siddananvar, a journalist.

Mr. Siddannavar, who hails from Bagalkot district, has visited Bommasagar in the past three years and written about the ritual. This year, he was able to help prevent it with the help of Megharaj Kawad, president of an organisation that takes care of stray cattle, Dayanand Swamy, coordinator of the Animal Welfare Board of India, and the Prani Daya Sangha of Bangalore.

Mr. Siddannavar, Mr. Kawad, and Mr. Swamy approached the district administration for help, and the Deputy Commissioner, Gonal Bhimappa, sought a report from the tahsildar.

The administration decided to take legal steps to prevent animal sacrifice. Others concerned formed a committee to create awareness among the people and a campaign was launched. Children were involved, and pamphlets were printed and distributed in villages. Jain organisations came forward to meet the expenditure.

"I never imagined that we would achieve this," Mr. Dayanand Swamy said after concerted efforts led to the ritual being stopped.

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