Jivesh Jha (The Rising Nepal, a national English daily) 
Celebrating the victory of virtue over evil, Dashain celebration has begun for millions of Hindus worldwide. Known by many as Durga Pooja, this ten-day celebration honours Dharma's victory over Adharma (evil).
This event honours Goddess Durga's conquest of the demon Mahisassura in order to save the Dharma. Moreover, the Vijyadashami represents the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana. The annual festival is eagerly and fervently observed. On the seventh and eighth days of Dashain, known as Saptami and Ashtami, devotees hailing from Nepal's Terai-Madhesh region, usually, sacrifice goat in the honour of goddess Durga.
Dashain is not about spilling blood to appease the gods. To get the goddess Durga's blessings for a long, healthy, and fulfilling life, one must please her. Mata Durga is the source of power, energy and courage. She is the source of Shakti providing strength to humans to earn, learn and live a prosperous life. She is also called divine force and the Annapurna Mata providing food and water to humans. This way, she is also the god eliminating famine.
Festival of faith, sacrifice
The Rajdevi temple in Janakpur is well-known for its goat sacrifices on the eighth day of Dashain. This temple has been the site of a goat-slaughter since time immemorial. The custom of sacrificing goat has been a common practice among Hindus.
To please the all-powerful god and goddesses, particularly the power goddess Durga and god Brahma, the universe's creator, Hindus in Nepal traditionally sacrifice goats for seeking blessings of the god for bringing wealth, peace, and property at their doorstep.
Every year on Astami, or the eighth day of Dashai, between 15,000 and 16,000 goats are generally slaughtered at the Rajdevi temple. Usually, the killing starts around 7:30 PM and ends before dawn (6 AM).
There is both criticism and condemnation of the animal sacrifice. Animal rights’ advocates contend that the ritual of animal sacrifice is not necessary for the worship of a deity. The followers and Pundits, on the other hand, are opposed to ending this centuries-old practise of animal sacrifice. They believe, sacrifice is essential to appease their deity, Kali.
The Hindu texts have traditionally regarded animal sacrifice as a sacred concept. It is referenced in the 10th Verse of 12th Chapter of the holy book ‘Durga Saptashati’. Several religious writings, like ‘Devi Bhagabat,’ support offering animals as sacrifices to the all-powerful deity.
In Janakpur, there is a common presumption that if animal sacrifices were to end, there would be a national outcry.
Bad practices
The notion of sacrifice has also given rise to certain unethical behaviours. Some view goat sacrifice as a hilarious activity. They sacrifice goats for picnics or for fun.
Many buy costly, large, and healthy goats to present to the goddess. Hindu scriptures support offering sacrifices in order to appease god. No religious source specifies the weight of the goat, and pundits also don't offer any advice along those lines. The custom of adopting a larger goat is basically a show off.
Do sacrifice but ensure lesser pain
Nepal is a member state of the World Organisation on Animal Health. Animals have five fundamental freedoms that the member states have a duty to protect: freedom from physical distress; freedom from fear and anxiety; freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from malnutrition; and freedom to behave normally.
Being a party to these kinds of international agreements would give the state the authority to step in, implement legislation, and mediate conflicts between religious beliefs and the law.
People of other faith too have custom of animal sacrificing. A secular legislation requiring the least pain and harm to be inflicted upon animals during their death process should be enacted by the state. Inexperienced and untrained people are seen murdering the goats, inflicting severe suffering upon them.
Other goats see their fellow animals being slain or in the midst of being killed, and the defenceless animals, which are voiceless and powerless, are killed.
Way forward
It's a delicate matter that should be handled promptly by people's representatives in the relevant forums. There should not actually be a complete prohibition.
If animal sacrifice is considered to be a part of someone's religious beliefs, then there ought to be rules on how to do it. There should be enforcement of laws that direct the authorities to carry out sacrifices of animals in a way that cause lesser pain to animals.
Our Constitution's Article 26 guarantees religious freedoms. It cannot, however, offer an unrestrained right to sacrifice animals in a fanciful manner. The religious freedom to sacrifice animals may be subject to limitations, just like any other right. These constraints may include a method of animal sacrifice that results in minimal suffering to the animals.
Let's consider taking actions that may lessen the suffering of the goats sacrificed at holy places, like Janakpur’s Rajdevi Temple. Slaughtering of a goat in front of fellow goats is simply cruel. Killing of animals by an untrained person is a crueller act. It’s high time for us to strike a balance between religious practices, morality and laws.
(Jha is currently a Judicial Officer, at Supreme Court. jhajivesh@gmail.com)
https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/34107
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