Charchika temple says no to animal sacrifice

Cuttack, Sep 29 (UNI) Animal lovers in Orissa have every reason to cheer as no ''shakti'' shrines in the coastal district of Cuttack will under go animal sacrifices during the ''Astami puja'' on Saturday.

The district administration had successfully sensitised the people against the ancient and cruel practice of animal sacrifice before the deities during the Durga puja in the absence of any specific law banning animal sacrifices.

After the Sirlo temple at Kissan Nagar in 2003, Podpadakali temple at Niali in 2004 and Bhattarika temple at Badamba in 2005, the Charchika temple at Banki had now decided to ban animal sacrifices from this year, District Collector D K Singh said.

The temple administrators in Banki at a local level meeting convened by the Sub-collector recently had responded positively and unanimously decided to do away with the cruel practice of animal sacrifice at the shrine, Mr Singh remarked.

''We are hopeful that the people of Banki would cooperate with the administration in preventing the age-old practice of animal sacrifice like their counterparts in Kisan Nagar, Niali and Badamba, '' the District Collector said.

The practice of putting an end to the animal sacrifices at various shakti shrines began at Sirlo temple in Kisan Nagar following the intervention of Orissa High Court in 2003.

Several organizations, including People for Animals, had moved to the High Court seeking a specific direction to completely ban animal sacrifice at the shakti shrines during festive occasions.

The High Court had disposed of many petitions asking the petitioners to move the appropriate forum for actions in accordance with law and directed the district administrations to sensitise the people against this mal-practice which is irrelevant in the present day society.

UNI DP SJC PDM KP1850