Animals were today sacrificed on the streets of Bhawanipatna town in Odisha’s Kalahandi districts as the procession of Goddess Manekeswari proceeded on the occasion of the Mahashtami of Durga Puja.
Devotees sacrificed goats, sheep and other animals along the 4-km-long road from Manikeswari temple to Jenakhol as part of the age-old ritual to appease the goddess.
The procession, which continued amid beating of drums and other tribal instruments, culminated after more than 6 hours.
Lakhs of devotes from different parts of Odisha and neighboring states attended.
“It is due to age-old practice and belief of the local people to sacrifice goats as mark of fulfillment of wishes. Though we have been successful in motivating people against animal sacrifice, a lot more to be done to stop the practice” said Kalahandi sub-collector Sasadhar Nayak.
Along with animal sacrifices, people also released doves in the air on this occasion.
Several animal activist groups have voiced their concern over the sacrifices.