120 Years Tradition Of Animal Sacrifice Ends After 12 Years Of Battle

APOWA - Action for Protection of Wild Animals

Every year Rajo Sankranti (a mass festival in Odisha, India) is a feast day for the villagers of Srirampur and its neighbor villages under Pattamundai police limit where hundreds of animals killed before Deity Maa Ramchandi, Srirampur. The Deity's temple situated in the campus of Ramachandra Nodal U.P. School having 428 students. The students witness hundreds of animals killed by slaughterer (ghatak). The innocent kids having up to 5 to13 years age shocked by the event every year. Thanks to JILLA PASHUBALI PRATIRODHA MANCHA a district level forum for prevention of animal sacrifice and animal welfare organization APOWA (Action for Protection of Wild Animals). Jointly we have been campaigning for abolition of this heinous superstitious tradition since last decade. Fortunately this year on 15th June, 2012 animal sacrifices were completely stopped after complaint First Information Report to local police station against the temple administration and the slaughterer. Police arrested to the slaughterer named Chaitany Rana of nearby village Damarpur and in other way, our volunteers along with some village youth started awareness campaign, distributing leaflets and picketing in front of the temple. By the way the entire system 120 year’s traditions came to closure.

We would like to thank district administration, local tahasildar Mr.Pabitramohan Dash, IIC police station pattamundai Mr. Amitav Mohapatra, the village youth for their timely cooperation. It is noteworthy that last year more than 320 animals were sacrificed in that place.

And also last year, we got success to end of animal sacrifices in other two places i.e. Maa Budhi Jagulai temple, Osangara and Maa Basulai temple, Sankhapada in Kendrapara district.