The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), whose mission statement is “Promoting Understanding, Tolerance and Pluralism” - described the mass slaughter of animals at the Gadhimai Temple in Nepal, which began on November 24, 2009, as grotesque and nearly unrecognizable in the practice of mainstream Hinduism today. 

 The ritual proceeded despite the protests of several animal rights activists in Nepal and India and was attended by the local Maoist politician representing the district.

 ”These marginal practices of animal slaughter are a relic of a violent and superstitious past that continue today largely because they are encouraged by a nexus of underworld gangs, bootleggers and politicians prospering by the selling of meat and animal hide to tanneries,” said Ramesh Rao, PhD, the Foundation’s human rights coordinator.  “We add our voices to the outrage and anguish that so many animals suffered in a dark ritual that also hoodwinked the local poor to sacrifice their livestock for cheap.”  

 While yagna, the ritual of sacrifice in which oblations are offered to the Divine Agni (fire), is acknowledged by Hindus, and there are allusions in Hindu texts to the sacrifice of animals in ancient texts, Hinduism also unequivocally advocates the protection of all living beings, seeing divinity in them.  Modern Hindus, making up the largest numbers of vegetarians in the world, therefore perform the fire sacrifice symbolically, using grains, fruits, butter, etc., to propitiate various deities.

 ”It is unfortunate that the temple in Nepal still allows this feudal, anachronistic and bloody animal sacrifice whatever the local and religious lore,” added Prof. Rao.  “Remembering that forty-five million turkeys were sacrificed for Thanksgiving alone, we hope that the world will join us in condemning the sanitized butchering of billions of animals for food with the same zeal that we condemn the orgiastic killings in Nepal in the name of religion.”

 QCA has contacted HAF to compliment them on their stance and has permission to extract from the article on their site.

 We consider the sentiment about western slaughter of turkeys, expressed in the last paragraph, a point well made.

We are very happy to be in touch with HAF – thanks to Sheetal Shah for your positive response.

 http://www.hafsite.org

 Vasanthi Kumar’s group Stray Relief and Animal Welfare (STRAW) ran another treatment camp in New Delhi on December 12 09.

 Vasanthi writes:

We were able to vaccinate about 15 dogs and pick up about 30 dogs for spaying and neutering. A good number of volunteers helped out as well. We are hoping that a local monthly magazine and the Hindustan Times newspaper will cover the event.

injured puppy at STRAW's camp

Vasanthi and a patient awaiting treatment

Visit www.strawindia.org

volunteers help with vaccinations

Latika and pup

Ghaziabad, one of more than 20 People for Animals shelters founded by the MP and environmentalist Maneka Gandhi, is run by Ashima Sharma.  She sends the following photos:

“People For Animals is India’s largest animal welfare organization (NGO) with a nationwide network of 2.5 lakh members  (a lakh is 100,000), 160 units and 26 hospitals. With Mrs Maneka Gandhi as our chairperson, we undertake animal rescue and rehabilitation work across the country. It is our aim to set up animal welfare centres in each of India’s 600 districts.”

Krishna and the cows

Pradeep Nath, President and Founder of Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA) has been fighting since childhood to rescue the cattle of his area from being taken away illegally for slaughter. 

 Between November 7^th and 11th 2009, an intervention was made to prevent a truckload of cattle from going to an illegal slaughter house.  With the help of media and other people via an interim measure, VSPCA got them to the Municipality, where rescue efforts – special feed, water and medical treatment was provided.

With further legal action, all 18 cows and bulls will eventually be housed at the nearby Simchchalam Goshala (cow sanctuary), as VSPCA shelter currently is overcrowded and fighting an outbreak of Hoof and Mouth Disease.

Pradeep Nath is also a lawyer and, if all the bulls are not released into safe custody, another court order will be filed.

We thank Pradeep Nath and Eileen Weintraub, Visakha‘s representative in the United States, for their compassionate and effective work  for the animals.

For more information, visit http://www.vspca.org

We have featured the work of Celine Clement before on our site. QCA, in company with many other groups, is deeply concerned about the incarceration of animals in circuses. Visit http://www.captiveanimals.org for comprehensive information on this.

We thank Celine for allowing us to use two more of her polemical images, part of a book in progress.

http://www.celineclement.com

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