Thousands of Animals Sacrificed at Bloody Ritual
Davangere, Feb 25 (DHNS ): The scene would have made many weak-hearted faint. But nearly one lakh people chanted ''hulugyo.... hulugyo'' when the head of a buffalo was carried around Sridurgambika temple in the City in the early hours of Wednesday.
What followed was more galling. Literally blood flowed as nearly 50,000 sheep, five buffaloes and thousands of chickens were sacrificed to please the goddess during the biennial Sridurgambika temple fair in the City.
Surprisingly, police, who had mounted tight security, remained mute spectators as the animals were butchered in the old Davangere area. A crowd of nearly one lakh had gathered for the fair.
After butchering the "pattadaskona" (main buffalo) at an undisclosed place, the devotees arrived at the temple with the head amidst chanting of "hulugyo... hulugyo) and went round the temple and offered the blood to the presiding deity. As if to give a seal of approval to the barbaric practice, a former minister, who was present at the spot, applied blood as tilak on his forehead. By 10 am, 50,000 sheep were cut in front of the houses.
Administration’s failure
The administration and police could not prevent women and children from offering seva covering themselves in neem leaves. As there is a ban on slaughtering now, the devotees cut the buffalo at an undisclosed place and bring it to the temple during this once-in-a two-year fair.
According to sources, nine buffaloes were sacrificed. By evening, at least five heads had been offered to the goddess. The event made a mockery of the arrangements as the authorities had installed CCTVs to prevent slaughter.