Animal Welfare Groups Condemn “Horrific Bloodbath” at Gadhimai Festival, Call for End to Mass Sacrifice

Kathmandu/ New Delhi: Animal welfare organizations, including Humane Society International/India (HSI/India), People for Animals (PFA), Sneha Care, and the Federation of Animal Welfare of Nepal, have condemned the mass animal sacrifices taking place at the Gadhimai festival in Nepal, calling it a “horrific bloodbath.” The groups have urgently appealed to the Nepali government to ensure that this year’s event is the last to involve animal sacrifice.

The festival, held every five years in Bariyarpur village in Bara district, is notorious for its ritual slaughter of animals, with an estimated 500,000 animals sacrificed by the end of the event. This year’s festival began today with the sacrifice of approximately 6,000 buffaloes, and thousands of other animals, including goats, pigeons, and chickens, are expected to meet the same fate tomorrow.

Border Rescue Operations Save Over 700 Animals

In a coordinated effort to reduce the slaughter, HSI/India, PFA, and the Border Police have intercepted and seized over 700 animals being illegally transported across the Indo-Nepal border. The animals, including 69 buffaloes, 325 goats, 328 pigeons, and two chickens, were rescued before being sacrificed. Many of the animals, including sick and newborn goats, will receive lifelong care at Happy Home Sanctuary, managed by PFA Uttarakhand, while others have been placed in permanent homes or released into the wild.

Arkaprava Bhar, Senior Manager of Campaigns at HSI/India, described the disturbing conditions the rescued animals endured during their transport: “We have rescued buffaloes from the back of trucks, goats being smuggled under dupattas on motorcycles, chickens hanging upside down by their legs, and pigeons crammed into boxes. The suffering these animals go through is tragic and unnecessary.”

Bhar added, “There is nothing more disturbing than what I saw at Gadhimai. It is hard to imagine animal slaughter on such a large scale. Animals are beheaded everywhere, and wherever you step, there are red puddles of blood. The experience is terrifying for these sensitive and intelligent creatures.”

Despite these rescue efforts, it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 animals will still be sacrificed over the next two days, with the majority coming from India. HSI/India and PFA have been working for years to stop the illegal transportation of animals to Gadhimai, having witnessed a significant reduction in the number of sacrifices over the past two decades, from around 500,000 animals in 2009 to 250,000 in 2014 and 2019.

Calls for Compassion and Policy Action

Prior to the festival, HSI/India and PFA conducted a public awareness campaign in 12 villages near the Indo-Nepal border, distributing 3,500 pamphlets in local languages and urging people to refrain from animal sacrifices. The organizations also hosted a press conference featuring Acharya Prashant, a spiritual guru and author, who appealed to devotees to celebrate the festival with compassion and uphold the true spirit of worship. “Bhakti means promoting compassion, not cruelty,” he said. “Let us honor the goddess by maintaining dignity for every life during Gadhimai.”

Sneha Shrestha, founder of Sneha’s Care and president of the Animal Welfare Association of Nepal, expressed frustration at the Nepali government’s inaction. “The local government is threatening journalists, NGOs, and activists who speak out against the sacrifices, which is a violation of the right to free expression,” she said. “The government promised to stop the sacrifices, but has failed to take concrete steps.”

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India ordered the Indian government to halt the illegal transportation of animals for the festival. In 2019, the Nepal Supreme Court also ruled to ban the live animal sacrifices at Gadhimai and called for a phased ban across the country. However, the ruling has been largely ignored, and animal welfare organizations are still pushing for action to enforce the law.

A Call for a Bloodless Future

While the festival continues, animal welfare advocates remain hopeful that their efforts will lead to a long-term ban on animal sacrifice at Gadhimai. As HSI/India and PFA continue their campaigns, they have called on both the Nepali and Indian governments to take immediate action to protect animals and end the tradition of animal sacrifice once and for all.

“There is still time to make this the last festival of sacrifice,” said Bhar. “The animals we have saved are living proof that compassion and action can make a difference. We must now urge the government of Nepal to act decisively and ensure a bloodless future for Gadhimai.”