Kathmandu (PTI): Protests over Nepal government's decision to scrap the practice of sacrificing animals during the Hindu festival of Indrajatra, continued for the third day on Sunday, with members of the ethnic Newar community staging demonstrations in the capital.

Life came to a stand-still in major parts of Kathmandu as the Newars forced shut markets, blocked roads and burnt tyres to protest a "cultural invasion" by Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who curtailed the budget for the purchase of buffaloes and other animals meant for sacrificing on the last day of the eight-day Indrajatra festival.

Demonstrators, who had stopped chariot pulling procession of living Goddess Kumari on the concluding day of the Festival on Fiday, today clashed with police at the Hanumandhoka, Basantapur, Makhan, Indrachwok, Bhimsenthan and Bhotahity areas in the capital, injuring at least six.

They burnt effigies of Bhattarai and Minister for Culture Gopal Kiranti, both belonging to Maoist, and demanded public apology from them even after the government announced to set aside Rs 15,000 for the rituals.

The money is to be utilised for animal sacrifices and other rituals during the festival.

"The Maoists had stopped the Dabur Vatika Miss Nepal 2008 contest saying that it would invite foreign cultural invasion but why are they trying to invade the culture of Kathmandu by cutting the budget?" an agitator asked.

President Ram Baran Yadav, who attended the beginning of the Indrajatra festival last week, did not attend the closing ceremony of the festival on Friday owing to security reasons.