Dashain (or Dasain) festival, Nepal
Dashain (दशैं) is the 15-day national (religious) festival of Nepal. It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese hindu of all casts throughout the globe. It is not only the longest festival of the country but is also the one which is most anticipated. The festival falls around September–October, starting from the bright lunar fortnight and ending on the day of full moon. Dasain is also popularly referred to as Bada Dasain, Dashera, Vijaya Dashami etc.
Throughout the country the goddess Durga in all her manifestations is worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual of holy bathing, drenching the goddess for days in blood. This festival is also known for its emphasis on the family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together. All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period. (Taken from Wikipedia)
Throughout the country the goddess Durga in all her manifestations is worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual of holy bathing, drenching the goddess for days in blood. This festival is also known for its emphasis on the family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together. All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period. (Taken from Wikipedia)
Dasain festivals is Nepal’s largest festivals which is celebrated during the month of Kartik (late September and early October). During the Dashain festivals (Dasain and Chaite Dasain – see March), priests perform various Tantric rituals to Goddess Durga Bhawani, and the Living Goddess Kumari. Dasain sees the greatest numbers of animals sacrificed. During Kalrati, in Taleju Temple, the government publicly beheads 54 buffaloes and 54 he-goats, followed by the killing of 108 buffaloes by the Nepal Army. The event draws many devotees and is screened on national Television. At the same time in the palace in Gurkha 108 buffaloes are being beheaded. This marks the start of mass sacrifice by the people across the country; it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of goats are being sacrificed during Dasain as well as an unknown number of buffaloes, ducks, chicken, birds, et cetera.
Dasain Bhaktapur - At Taleju temple in Bhaktapur 25 buffaloes and some 20 goats are killed by cutting their throats and spilling blood over all the images. Only then they are beheaded. The temple area is soaked with blood. The heads of the animals are displayed around the image of Taleju.
During the Navadurga dances, on the ninth day of Dasain, people feed a water buffalo drunk on rice‑beer. The staggering animal is chase by a crowd of people it to Brahmayani where nine Goddesses are installed at the night. The priest performs a Tantric worship to sacrifice the drunk buffalo believed to be possessed by a demon called Mahi-sa-shur. The nine Navadurga dancers receive a fountain of blood in their mouth directly from the vein of the buffalo.
In one ritual a dancer bites off the head of a cock and drinks the blood that spews out.
Another ritual is the chasing of a sacrificial pig, stolen by groups of young men and boys. The youngsters run around carrying the squeaking pig under their jackets and passing it quickly from one to the other. The animal is released after two hours after which a dancer grabs it. He tears the heart of the live baby pig out after which it is eaten raw. As the dancers are forbidden to use knives or instruments the lead dancer tears the skin under the piglet’s forelegs with his fingernails, insert his hand and pulls out the heart. The dancers drink blood from the piglet’s open chest.
Dasain Bhaktapur - At Taleju temple in Bhaktapur 25 buffaloes and some 20 goats are killed by cutting their throats and spilling blood over all the images. Only then they are beheaded. The temple area is soaked with blood. The heads of the animals are displayed around the image of Taleju.
During the Navadurga dances, on the ninth day of Dasain, people feed a water buffalo drunk on rice‑beer. The staggering animal is chase by a crowd of people it to Brahmayani where nine Goddesses are installed at the night. The priest performs a Tantric worship to sacrifice the drunk buffalo believed to be possessed by a demon called Mahi-sa-shur. The nine Navadurga dancers receive a fountain of blood in their mouth directly from the vein of the buffalo.
In one ritual a dancer bites off the head of a cock and drinks the blood that spews out.
Another ritual is the chasing of a sacrificial pig, stolen by groups of young men and boys. The youngsters run around carrying the squeaking pig under their jackets and passing it quickly from one to the other. The animal is released after two hours after which a dancer grabs it. He tears the heart of the live baby pig out after which it is eaten raw. As the dancers are forbidden to use knives or instruments the lead dancer tears the skin under the piglet’s forelegs with his fingernails, insert his hand and pulls out the heart. The dancers drink blood from the piglet’s open chest.
This is the occasion for the family reunion; a reason for someone to return home, if he or she has been away from home for a while. Government offices and schools remain closed throughout the country and people of all classes and caste celebrate the festival with equal zeal and interest. Everyone in the family gets new clothes and chickens, goats or buffaloes are killed for the feast, no matter one needs to take out loans for. Villagers also make swings with bamboo and ropes. Everyone will be in joyous mood.
The festival lasts for 15 days but the most important days are the 1st, 7th, 8th, 9th and the 10th day. The first day of the festival, which falls on the first day of the bright lunar fortnight of the month Ashwin is called Ghatasthapana-which means the " installing of a holy water vessel" in the prayer room. The holy water vessel, known as "Kalash" is installed on the bed of sand and soil. The sand bed is also seeded with grains like wheat, barley, paddy etc. The senior most male of the family performs ritual and chants prayers to Goddess Durga and waters the seeds for 9 days. The seeds germinate to yellow sprouts of about 6 inches by the 10th day. The sacred yellow grass-which is called "jamara" and the blessed red color paste-known as 'tika' are bestowed by the senior members of the families to the juniors on the 10th day of the festival.
Installation of the holy vessel and germination of "jamara" for the Royal family is still done in the ancestral palace of Gorkha which lies more than 100 miles west of Kathmandu. On the 7th day of the festival, which is called "Phoolpatee", the Royal Kalash filled with sacred water, together with 'jamara', banana stalks, sugar cane etc wrapped up with red cloth is carried by the priests of the Royal ancestral palace of Gorkha on a decorated palanquin shaded by gold-tipped and embroidered canopy, led by a military platoon of the royal priest. The carriers of Jamara walk for 3 days from Gorkha to Kathmandu. The palace and government officials, attired in formal dresses line up in the street to welcome the procession bearing the "jamara'. There will be ceremonies with artillery fires in Tudhikhel and formerly the king would attend the ceremony and now it's the President as the monarchy no longer exists in the country.
The 8th day is called the 'Maha Asthami'. Today, Goddess Durga and Kali are appeased with animal bloods. Animal sacrifices are made almost in every household and temples. There are only 5 kinds of animals considered eligible for sacrifices; goats, buffaloes, pigs, chicken and ducks. The animals must be male and un-castrated to be accepted by the goddess. There will be tantric worships and prayers.
The 9th day is called "Maha Nawami". Today, people worships the tools and machineries they use in everyday life for their job. It's common to see people worshipping their motor vehicles. Workers of the factories will worship their machines. Animal sacrifices are made for the machines and tools as well. Those who are against animal sacrifice will chop the squash or break open the coconut. People worship Lord Bishwakarma-the God of the Workers! Taleju Temple at Durbar Square which remains closed throughout the year is opened for public visit today. The military men of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace make buffalo sacrifices to appease Goddess Durga. Foreign visitors are allowed to enter the palace and witness the rituals inside. Military bands play war tunes and guns are fired. By the time the ritual of the day is over, there will be a pool of blood in the palace courtyard. Those who are not used to seeing animal bloods are advised not to attend the ceremony.
The 10th day is called "Viajaya Dashami". This is the day Goddess Durga got victory over Demons. This is also the day Lord Rama, blessed by Goddess Durga defeated the demon King Ravana of Lanka. This day represents the day of victory of good over bad. Today, the seniors of the family bestow 'jamara' and 'tika" to the juniors in the family. People also will visit their parent in-laws, uncles and aunts and other senior relatives. Presidents palace will be open for public and government officials so that they can receive 'tika' and 'jamara' from the President', a tradition of the palace still followed, although the monarchy no longer exists. The tradition of receiving 'tika' and 'jamara' continues till the 15th day as people traveling from far away may not be able to pay visit to all the relatives in a single day. The festival concludes on the 15th day, called Poornima, when the remaining jamara and holy vessel is disposed in the river.
There will be a lot of feasting and drinking. People entertain by swinging and playing cards! Sometime, a drama of the Goddess Durga fighting demons will be staged! Family members which are away from home are much missed during Dashain Festival.
Source: Highland Asia Travel
|
|
NFC to supply 3,000 goats for Dashain
KATHMANDU, SEP 21 2012 - via The Katmandu Post
Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) has said it plans to supply 3,000 goats in the Kathmandu valley for the upcoming Dashain festival.
The state-owned company, which has been assigned by the government to make live goats available for the feast, said it would need Rs 200 million to buy the animals. It has planned to procure them from Nepalgunj, Dang, Hetauda and Lahan. Last year, NFC sold around 2,500 goats.
Demand jumps to 50,000 goats during the festival, and NFC said its move was directed more at intervening in the market in a bid to keep prices stable than fulfilling the total requirement. Supply and prices have a habit of going haywire amid the festival rush with many traders out to make a killing.
“NFC’s sole task is to influence market prices and keep them down,” said Indra Sitaula, deputy general manager. Goats will be sold from NFC’s depot at Thapathali from the day of Ghatasthapana. Last year, NFC sold live goats weighing up to 20-25 kg each at Rs 258 per kg, while those weighing above 25 kg were priced at Rs 266 per kg. However, officials said prices would be much higher this year. Nepalis are avid meat eaters, particularly during festivals like Dashain, and the country imports a large number of animals annually.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the country is highly dependent on imports for meat. In the last fiscal year, 29,000 live sheep, 370,400 live goats and 59,810 live buffalos were imported, most of them during the Dashain festival.
The ministry’s stats show that per capita meat production increased to 12.84 kg in the last fiscal year, up from 12 kg last year. Overall meat production rose 3.71 percent to 287,929 tonnes in the last fiscal year with a jump in chicken output. The ministry estimated that chicken production increased 11.81 percent to 40,346 tonnes. Similarly, goat and buff output increased 2.17 percent and 2.71 percent to 53,956 tonnes and 172, 413 tonnes respectively.
Meanwhile, NFC has asked the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies for Rs 9 million to supply subsidised rice to consumers. The company said that it had adequate stocks to distribute rice in the remote areas too. Although, there is no plan to subsidise rice, Sitaula said they would present a proposal to the board.
NFC has also planned to set up an integrated market with Salt Trading Corporation and National Trading Limited like it has been doing every year. NFC has planned to set up five stalls in the capital.
Fighting ritualistic animal sacrifices in Nepal
October 3, 2012
Surajan Shresta, founder of the 'Animal Rights Club' in Nepal , who is working closely with "Voices For Change", is fighting for the abolition of ritualistic slaughter of animals during religious festivities.
With "Dashain" just days away their plan and aim to abolish animal abuse needs to be heard. WILD TIME caught up with Surajan to hear about their campaigns and more.
Surajan Shresta, founder of the 'Animal Rights Club' in Nepal , who is working closely with "Voices For Change", is fighting for the abolition of ritualistic slaughter of animals during religious festivities.
With "Dashain" just days away their plan and aim to abolish animal abuse needs to be heard. WILD TIME caught up with Surajan to hear about their campaigns and more.
ARC ~ ANIMAL RIGHTS CLUB
Nepal's young people are standing up
The Animal Rights Club (ARC) formed in February 2012, is a voluntary, organization. ARC was established with the main view of stopping the religious sacrifice of animals and protect and preserve the rights of animals. We have many ongoing campaigns, and we are constantly out spreading awareness through our protests, demonstrations and information stands.
We are currently running a schools and colleges level program to provide information about animals rights and why it is necessary to stop the cruelty. We have currently conducted a peace people movement to stop the sacrifice of animals in the name of God. Generally, any animal is sacrificed in the name of God including livestock and pets. So we are working with a view to stop it and to reduce it to zero level.
Our objective is to raise awareness to protect animals.
We believe that animals matter as individuals; they have their own values completely separate from how useful they are to us, and, that every creature has the right to live free from pain and suffering. Animal rights is both a philosophy and a social movement that challenges traditional views that animals exist on the planet for the exploit and service of humanity. That they are for the beauty of nature is also a vague perception - they are here primarily for the diversity of this Planet's ecological balance, while simultaneously providing the visual beauty we so much take for granted.
Animals have feelings, emotions and experience pain, just like humans. So to stop their suffering, we have started ARC. We have many supporters nationally and internationally. We get the inspiration from various international persons working for a change in the world like Bob Oort and other like minded people. So we are moving forward on the path of VOICES FOR CHANGE for animals.
We are currently running a schools and colleges level program to provide information about animals rights and why it is necessary to stop the cruelty. We have currently conducted a peace people movement to stop the sacrifice of animals in the name of God. Generally, any animal is sacrificed in the name of God including livestock and pets. So we are working with a view to stop it and to reduce it to zero level.
Our objective is to raise awareness to protect animals.
We believe that animals matter as individuals; they have their own values completely separate from how useful they are to us, and, that every creature has the right to live free from pain and suffering. Animal rights is both a philosophy and a social movement that challenges traditional views that animals exist on the planet for the exploit and service of humanity. That they are for the beauty of nature is also a vague perception - they are here primarily for the diversity of this Planet's ecological balance, while simultaneously providing the visual beauty we so much take for granted.
Animals have feelings, emotions and experience pain, just like humans. So to stop their suffering, we have started ARC. We have many supporters nationally and internationally. We get the inspiration from various international persons working for a change in the world like Bob Oort and other like minded people. So we are moving forward on the path of VOICES FOR CHANGE for animals.
|
ARC has currently 11 representative members:
President - Surajan Shrestha Vice President - Kamal Subedi Art & Promotion - Rajaram Karki General assistant members: 1. Aashish Dallakoti 2. Prem Prasad Saha 3. Sujan Poudel 4. Bishwash Poudel 5. Prativa Poudel 6. Aarati Sunar 7. Sapana Thapa 8. Anusha Adhikari |
To learn more about ARC and Surajan Shresta, please visit Voices for Change
and the Facebook-page of ARC
|
|
PUBLIC STATEMENT
by Bob Oort, VOICES FOR CHANGE administrator and editor, October 4, 2012
I insert this statement in this page today October 4, 2012 after this page has been on the net since the beginning of this year.
I am outraged at the sight of the barbaric behavior of people claiming to act on the will of God as seen above and below. This is not the will of God, this is damned satanic bloody murder in the first degree, a ritual imposed by mentally insane people posing as priests gone so far disturbed in their brain that they believe in these atrocities as being a cultural religious practice. This is not culture, this is senseless, bloody murder with no justification whatsoever.
For over one year I have watched the endless photos and videos of this insanity streaming across the net, the petitions and the campaigns to end this ignorant madness. Today I have taken the last straw. I condemn any religion indulging in these obscene barbaric practices. I condemn those people flocking to such so called "festivals" as Gandhimai, I condemn those people with their machetes eager to hack off the the head of a living, God created being. I condemn those people standing idly by doing nothing and I condemn the Nepal government for not outlawing this outrageous savagery.
If all those who murder in the name of God, administer this cruelty to an animal IN THE NAME OF GOD, do not wake up from your own self imposed nightmare, may the God you pray to to forgive you for this greatest violation of Life grant you the same suffering as you impose on the animals, for eternity.
This is Nepal, a God given place of peace, serenity and beauty on Earth? No sir, this is hell on Earth, for every animal that has been savagely slaughtered by nothing but a horde of bloodthirsty maniacs. Damn you who defy the God you pray to, damn you who impose your ignorance on sane thinking people in Nepal and across the world and damn you who impose this suffering on God's animals.
I am outraged at the sight of the barbaric behavior of people claiming to act on the will of God as seen above and below. This is not the will of God, this is damned satanic bloody murder in the first degree, a ritual imposed by mentally insane people posing as priests gone so far disturbed in their brain that they believe in these atrocities as being a cultural religious practice. This is not culture, this is senseless, bloody murder with no justification whatsoever.
For over one year I have watched the endless photos and videos of this insanity streaming across the net, the petitions and the campaigns to end this ignorant madness. Today I have taken the last straw. I condemn any religion indulging in these obscene barbaric practices. I condemn those people flocking to such so called "festivals" as Gandhimai, I condemn those people with their machetes eager to hack off the the head of a living, God created being. I condemn those people standing idly by doing nothing and I condemn the Nepal government for not outlawing this outrageous savagery.
If all those who murder in the name of God, administer this cruelty to an animal IN THE NAME OF GOD, do not wake up from your own self imposed nightmare, may the God you pray to to forgive you for this greatest violation of Life grant you the same suffering as you impose on the animals, for eternity.
This is Nepal, a God given place of peace, serenity and beauty on Earth? No sir, this is hell on Earth, for every animal that has been savagely slaughtered by nothing but a horde of bloodthirsty maniacs. Damn you who defy the God you pray to, damn you who impose your ignorance on sane thinking people in Nepal and across the world and damn you who impose this suffering on God's animals.
The ceremony in fact does ask for the animal's agreement to sacrifice - through man's interpretation anyway - with signal
that the animal shakes his/her head!
that the animal shakes his/her head!
About animal sacrifice in Nepal
Animal sacrifice is part of various ‘puja’ ritual offerings performed when Hindus worship idols. Animals are killed to get once wish fulfilled, to sanctify weddings, new homes or religious festivals. Upon purchasing a new car or truck, the owner sometimes splashes its exterior with fresh animal blood, to ensure the vehicle doesn't crash whenever it is driven.
For certain groups ‘puja’ is merely symbolic -- an offering of fruits, vegetables, butter, yogurt, money or flowers. For others ‘puja’ must involve animal blood. This death to please the gods is also interpreted as doing the animal a favor by releasing it from a life of suffering.
Sacrifices are performed as a mass bloodletting, such as during the Durga Puja festival when, once a year, soldiers in the center of Kathmandu decapitate hundreds of water buffalos and goats -- trying to dispatch each with a single stroke. During Nepal's largest festival, the Dasain feast in early autumn, up to 10,000 goats and other animals are slaughtered. Among sacrificial animals are water buffaloes, male goats, lamb, sheep, chicken, ducks, birds, snakes and pigs. Contrary to what people tend to belief, sacrifice causes great distress and suffering to the animals involved.
For certain groups ‘puja’ is merely symbolic -- an offering of fruits, vegetables, butter, yogurt, money or flowers. For others ‘puja’ must involve animal blood. This death to please the gods is also interpreted as doing the animal a favor by releasing it from a life of suffering.
Sacrifices are performed as a mass bloodletting, such as during the Durga Puja festival when, once a year, soldiers in the center of Kathmandu decapitate hundreds of water buffalos and goats -- trying to dispatch each with a single stroke. During Nepal's largest festival, the Dasain feast in early autumn, up to 10,000 goats and other animals are slaughtered. Among sacrificial animals are water buffaloes, male goats, lamb, sheep, chicken, ducks, birds, snakes and pigs. Contrary to what people tend to belief, sacrifice causes great distress and suffering to the animals involved.
Facts & figures
- Animal sacrifice is conducted in most goddess temples.
- The total number of animals sacrifices annually is estimated to be a few hundred thousand; most villages offer 250-1000 animals during Dasain festival alone.
- Sacrifices are generally conducted in the presence of children.
- There is no law to regulate animal sacrifice.
- The government supports sacrifices with subsidies.
- Annual Dasain sacrifices are shown life on national TV.
- Nepal's diverse multi-religious ethnic groups are all involved.
- There is very little awareness about the welfare aspect of blood sacrifices.
- Priests are among the promoters of animal sacrifice.
- Grave abuse takes place in the transport and killing of the animals.
- Gadhimai Festival takes place once every 5 years and ranks among the world's worst forms of animal cruelty.
- Apart from known sacrifice through throat slitting and beheading other extreme forms of blood sacrifices include the tearing apart of a live goat by young men, burning of live snakes, live skinning of pigs, removal of hearts from live animals, etc.
Source: Stop Animal Sacrifice
The petition
The Stop Animal Sacrifice Campaign was launched by the Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN) in November 2009, when over 200,000 animals were killed at Gadhimai Festival in the span of 24 hours. Shocked by the horrendous deaths, AWNN vowed to do everything possible to replace blood sacrifices by vegetarian offerings.
Please sign the petition addressed to the Nepalese government, that reads:
We, the undersigned, call on the government of Nepal to ban animal sacrifices and cruel sports. Nepal in the past banned human sacrifice and widow burning. We feel the time has come to ban blood sacrifices for the following reasons:
1. It hurts them;
2. It hurts us humans;
3. It strengthens vested interests;
4. It contradicts the spirit of laws and treaties;
5. It is bad for tourism.
We request the political leaders of Nepal to do what it takes to stop cruelty against animals in the name of culture or religion.
Please sign the petition addressed to the Nepalese government, that reads:
We, the undersigned, call on the government of Nepal to ban animal sacrifices and cruel sports. Nepal in the past banned human sacrifice and widow burning. We feel the time has come to ban blood sacrifices for the following reasons:
1. It hurts them;
2. It hurts us humans;
3. It strengthens vested interests;
4. It contradicts the spirit of laws and treaties;
5. It is bad for tourism.
We request the political leaders of Nepal to do what it takes to stop cruelty against animals in the name of culture or religion.
