*Warning: long annoying post. sorry not sorry* I really dont know how to feel about the Hindu Gadhimai Festival in Nepal - Ive seen so much all over the news, but mainly from biased parties or people who are being complete hypocrites. For those who dont know, it is a huge celebration, done once every 5 years, in honour of the Hindu Goddess Gadhimai of power. It lasts a month, and throughout this festival, over a quarter of a million animals are estimated to be sacrificed. From what I understand, the Jhatka method is practiced during the sacrifice - described as such - the instantaneous severing of the head of an animal with a single stroke of any weapon, with the underlying intention of killing the animal whilst causing it minimal suffering. This method is practiced in both Hinduism and Sikhism. Hindu is a peaceful religion, and many practice vegetarianism which can be seen in the Tirukural quotes Goodness is never one with the minds of these two: one who wields a weapon and one who feasts on a creatures flesh. in Verse 253. However - because the Jhatka method is based on instantaneous death, this verse does not apply and the meat can be consumed. It is also vital to remember that after the festival, all the meat, bones and hide are sold and used! I dont think it is a wasteful sacrifice. Are people criticising this event just because they dont like the religion - something I fear happened with the use of Halal meat and anti-Islamic people in the UK ? HOWEVER - my main concern is if the method of slaughter is not conducted appropriately or if the living conditions of the animals prior to the event are inhumane. This is where we, globally, need to change. I think, the one thing I would like to point out to everyone criticising the event - look at the log in your own eye - before pointing out the splinter in someone else. Look at the awful slaughter conditions in so many abattoirs in the UK, and some poor animal living conditions. Also - to those who say killing 250,000 animals in sacrifice is a waste of life - in the UK, a couple of million animals are slaughtered everyday, where most live stock is killed before it is 6 months old - cattle being the exception where on average they are killed between 1 - 2 years. Isnt that pretty wasteful? I am not against meat eaters - I dont think a vegetarian world would work - however I do believe in compassionate farming and slaughter. I think we need to question these things and step back and consider animal welfare once in a while.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:13:09 +0000
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