By Vishal Gulati,
Kullu : A rare congregation of deities has been called this month near here in Himachal Pradesh to religiously go through a high court order prohibiting animal slaughter at religious ceremonies.
“We have invited all the deities to decide whether the ban on animal slaughter is acceptable,” said Maheshwar Singh, the local legislator and chief representative of Lord Raghunath, the valley’s chief deity.
As per tradition, such events are held only in extraordinary situations.
The ‘Jagati Puch’ – a grand convention of Kullu Valley’s gods – was called last in February 2006 to decide the fate of a Himalayan Ski Village project promoted by Alfred Ford of Ford Motor Co.
Normally, Jagati Puch is called at the Lord Raghunath temple in Kullu town. The invitation is sent to oracles who speak for the gods — and they publicize what they claim to be divine verdicts.
Singh told IANS that over 100 deities were expected to “assemble” Sep 26 in Naggar village, known for Russian painter and philosopher Nicholas Roerich’s estate and 25 km from Kullu town.
In a landmark judgment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court Sep 1 banned the sacrifice of animals in temples, saying they cannot be permitted to be killed in a barbaric manner to appease the gods.
“No person throughout the state shall sacrifice any animal in any place of public religious worship, including all land and buildings near such places of religious worship which are ordinarily connected to religious purposes,” observed judges Rajiv Sharma and Sureshwar Thakur.
They banned animal sacrifice in all ceremonies, congregations and religious processions.
Challenging the verdict, Singh said the court ruling had hurt Hindu religious sentiments. “When people from other communities have the right to sacrifice animals, imposing ban on old-age religious traditions of Hindus is unconstitutional,” he said.
“Law should be equal for all,” he said. “The communities affected by the ban should be given an opportunity to be heard (by the court).”
Singh, the scion of the erstwhile Kullu estate, will file a review petition in the high court against the judgment on behalf of Kardar Sangh, which comprises representatives of the deities.
During Kullu Dussehra, the organisers sacrifice a buffalo, a sheep, a fish, a crab and a chicken. “The animal sacrifice is important during the festivals as it brings round-the-year prosperity,” he said.
Likewise, during Buddhi Diwali or “dark Diwali”, mainly celebrated in parts of Kullu, Sirmaur and Shimla districts, hundreds of goats and sheep are sacrificed.
Buddhi Diwali falls almost a month after the rest of the country marks the festival of lights.
According to tradition, villagers who rear livestock, mainly goats, through the year will take the animals to a nearby temple where the sacrificial ceremony is performed on the first night of the festival.
The severed heads are offered to the gods and deities and the animal carcasses are taken home to be cooked.
Animal protection groups and religious leaders, however, favour the ban on animal sacrifice.
US-based religious leader Rajan Zed told IANS on e-mail: “Animal sacrifice is cruel and horrendous and there are many other ways to worship the almighty.”
A centuries-old Buddhist shrine, the Key monastery in Spiti Valley in Lahaul and Spiti district, earlier appealed to the people to stop slaughtering animals and be more humane to other species.
The monastery has warned locals, mostly Buddhists, that they would be fined be Rs.20,000 if they are caught slaughtering animals, including wild ones, or drinking liquor.
(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at [email protected])