I have been standing at one of the check posts since 6:00a.m. with my fingers crossed , desperately hoping for the day to be over, hoping for some divine intervention. The police presence is minimal .With each horrifyingly passing minute I see women and young children going up the hill, their destination, The Massacre Point. As the day progresses, I witness what I had been dreading. A group of 50 odd men , drunk, brandishing crude weapons, holding the dazed animal captive, to be doomed at the mercy of its 'superior' fellow beings ,absolutely uncomprehending of the barbarism of the people around him.. The animal is beaten and driven up the hill , terror struck screaming in pain.
I enter the massacre site, the "Boonkhal Kalika Temple" where the animal is being struck mercilessly by blunt weapons with not just one blow but in a grisly manner and then................. there is nohing but darkness all around.......
The beheaded body is thrown down the cliff , to rot in the pristine environs of "The Dev Bhoomi"
By evening I find myself amidst hundreds of butchered animals and I wonder as to what compulsion drove perfectly normal looking people into indulging in such a macabre act . I am left bewildered, Is the "Goddess" happy , appeased ? Surely so many animals have not been brutally murdered in vain and may be after all the region will see better days in terms of prosperity and development.
APPEAL
The eyewitness account of the Brutality in Dev Bhoomi , the land of gods and godesses, is not a one off incident. It happens year in and year out all across the state of Uttarakhand and various parts of the country in the name of tradition and religion. The most condemnable brutality will continue to be perpetrated till each one us do not stand up, protest and demand.
Yes, we protest the violation of the very spirit of our constitution which calls for compassion for all living beings. Yes, we demand a Uniform Anti Animal SacrificeLegislation in the country.
India has discarded all that was abhorrent ,widow burning and human sacrifice to cite a few examples. Why then do we stop short of speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves or fight back? When we kill or allow to kill mute , defenseless creatures blindly and brutally we come across as a nation still steeped in the dark ages despite all the facade of progress.
The most ancient of all religions, Hinduism ,is woven around the thought that the supreme power , The Almighty , manifests itself in each life and the same soul resides in all living beings. A unique feature of Indian culture is its self rejuvenating capacity. It tailors itself constantly to take the best of the modern and technological aid without losing its roots.
The massacres at Kamakhya ,Boonkhal , Mundeshwar, Champawat and many other parts of the country are a blot on our 5000 year old culture and tradition.
Join the protest , Sign on The Petition and help preserve the true cultural heritage and ethos of an ancient land.
Let us become one voice and make the protest a mass movement.
Let us be the change we deserve and desire.
With regards
Manavi Bhatt
People for Animals Dehra Dun
www.pfadehradoon.org
To
The Government of India
The Government of Uttarakhand
Respected Madam / Sir
We , the signatories , call upon upon the Govt of India and the Govt of Uttarakhand to Ban Animal Sacrifice in Hindu Temple Premises by formulating a Stringent Anti Animal Sacrifice Legislation in the country.
It has been 63 years of independence but various parts of the country still indulge in the violent and brutal practice of animal sacrifice in the name of religion which is in stark contradiction to the compassion and tolerance which Hinduism espouses.
The widespread killing of animals , during religious fairs in Garhwal and Kumaon , continues with the Govt and the Administartion choosing to offer tacit support to the practice or choose to be the silent spectator of the blatant violation of all the laws of the land.
Uttarakhand takes great pride in being the Devbhoomi , the land of gods and godesses. The state attaracts pilgrims and tourists from across the country and the world.Many leave scarred after witnessing extreme violence and brutality towards the most defenseless of all beings.
The violence against animals is symbolic of the human tendency to crush and violate the weak, be it an animal or a fellow human being. At the religious fairs, where the animals are mercilessly butchered, young chidren form the largest group, who in turn start regarding the anomalies of human behaviour and depravity as normal.
The gruesome practice continues due to the evil nexus between the priest community and the money lenders who exploit the uneducated villagers for vested interests. The end result is a vicious circle of poverty and ignorance. By letting such practices to take place the government becomes a party to the backwardness and abject misery in which our major populace continues to live.
We request the Govt of India and the Govt of Uttarakhand to take stringent measures to put an end to the centuries of violence against those with whom we share our world.
Sixty three years down the line India must challenge age old beliefs which are a hindrance to pur progress, spiritual and economical.
We , the signatories , are confident that in order to preserve our cultural heritage and promote non-violent practices the respective governments will take immediate measures to Ban Animal Sacrifice.
