This November the Hindu festival of blood & world’s largest animal sacrifice has took place – the Gadhimai Mela.
Over 500,000 animals had been sacrificed over a month long festival, by decapitation, throat cutting, or simply hacking them to death all to gain favors from the Hindu goddess Gadhimai.
In 2009′s Gadhimai Mela 20,000 water buffaloes were killed the 1st day & around 5 million Hindu devotees were in attendance.
Animals of all ages are slaughtered & often arrive at the Mela injured & without food or water for 3-4 days.
This is not an organized abattoir but a 9 foot high poorly drained brick rectangular enclosure – terrified animals are simply herded in, chased & sacrificed randomly by men with large knives.
For a view of the 1st day of the Mela look here-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpb1001/413...9/sizes/o/
As you can see over the walls of the compound carcasses & gore are left to lay where they fall. The local Dalits (untouchables) skin the slain animals, removing the offal & the best meat in sacks to local villages.
Unfortunately far from all the meat is used in this manner, the sun &
unhygienic environment take their toll.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadhimai_festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6dHkRsxh3g
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/no...ival-nepal
Over 500,000 animals had been sacrificed over a month long festival, by decapitation, throat cutting, or simply hacking them to death all to gain favors from the Hindu goddess Gadhimai.
In 2009′s Gadhimai Mela 20,000 water buffaloes were killed the 1st day & around 5 million Hindu devotees were in attendance.
Animals of all ages are slaughtered & often arrive at the Mela injured & without food or water for 3-4 days.
This is not an organized abattoir but a 9 foot high poorly drained brick rectangular enclosure – terrified animals are simply herded in, chased & sacrificed randomly by men with large knives.
For a view of the 1st day of the Mela look here-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpb1001/413...9/sizes/o/
As you can see over the walls of the compound carcasses & gore are left to lay where they fall. The local Dalits (untouchables) skin the slain animals, removing the offal & the best meat in sacks to local villages.
Unfortunately far from all the meat is used in this manner, the sun &
unhygienic environment take their toll.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadhimai_festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6dHkRsxh3g
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/no...ival-nepal