S Dinajpur Kali temple stops public animal sacrifice
Times of India | 22 November 2024
12 Kolkata: The public mass sacrifice of animals, a tradition at the 400-year-old Bolla Kali Mata Temple in South Dinajpur, came to an end on Thursday after the puja committee informed Calcutta High Court that the sacrifice would only take place in a designated sacrifice-room.
The committee told the court goat sacrifice had been a centuries-old ritual at the temple and it would be done only at a "designated place for which a licence had been obtained". "The bali ghar (sacrificial room) is a recognised and licensed slaughterhouse conforming with all rules and regulations," it said.
Two PILs were filed against illegal animal slaughters "in the name of God". Last year, the Reforms Social Welfare Foundation had approached the HC against the mass sacrifice ritual, and this year, Akhil Bharat Krishi Go Seva Sangh moved the court against it.
Giving a report on the 2023 puja, Bengal govt told the court that the Bolla Kali temple committee even encouraged people to participate in the mass sacrifice. By doing this, the committee flouted its own undertaking that no encouragement would be given from the temple's side to citizens to participate in the mass sacrifice, govt said.
The HC said if any violation of the undertaking given by the puja committee took place this year, appropriate action would be taken.
CJ TS Sivagnanam said: "No one is trying to interfere with any religious practice. For ages together, it's been practised. But 100 years before and now, there is a lot of difference. Several legislations have come into place, particularly in 2001 when slaughterhouse rules were notified. It states that slaughtering can be done in a licensed premises. The counsels for the committee say they have obtained the licence. As per the rule, one animal cannot be slaughtered in the presence of another animal. If there should be a sacrifice, it needs to be done in a designated place. All over the place, you cannot keep slaughtering." CJ Sivagnanam was hearing the case with Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya.
Highlighting the tradition, ASG Ashoke Chakraborty shared his views by saying that people pray before the deity, and if the prayer is granted, they sacrifice goats as offering. Advocates for the committee said animals were slaug-htered one by one and were not visible to each other. The space has three places of sacrifice separated by partitions, they said.