Break with Tradition: No more animal sacrifice in two West Bengal temples

QUICK PILL

• This is good news for thosee who squirm at the thought of animal sacrifices.
• Two temples in West Bengal\'s Burdhman district have banned the practice and replaced it with a symbolic sacrifice of fruits and vegetables.
• However, dissenting voices are protesting the decision. Just why?

The district administration of Burdwan in West Bengal has banned the tradition of animal sacrifice in two of its famous temples from 6 December.

The ban has been enforced in Sarvamangla temple and the Birat Kali temple at Kalibazar mod. Now, to continue with tradition, there will be a symbolic sacrifice of fruits and vegetables in the temple premises.

However, the decision has bled to some discontent in certain sections of society as they feel it is an encroachment on their religious beliefs.

Might create problem for livelihood

Apart from a question of one's faith, there is a real fear of losing one's source of livelihood. Those who've traditionally been associated with animal sacrifice in temples are wary of losing their jobs.

However, the chairman of the Burdwan municipality and a member of Sarvamangla temple trust Dr Swarup Dutt has given an assurance that they will not lose their means of earning a living. According to him, they will now perform the symbolic sacrifice.

A humanitarian effort

The Humanists Association and Bhartiya Vigyan aur Yuktivadi Samiti had reportedly started a movement in 2005 to ban the practice of animal sacrifice. This led to several temples in the district being prohibited from conducting the practice.

The latest move is a part of that series of bans. The District Collector Dr Saomitra Mohan played a vital role in passing the orders. The Purohit of Kali temple informed the media that the ban was imposed only after taking everyone in confidence.

Arun Bhattacharya, the Sarvamangla temple priest said that the decision was taken on a humanitarian basis.