Dussehra coming: Kathmandu calling for goats

The Hindu festival of Dussehra has influenced the thinking of millions of Hindus all over the world. On the Maha Ashtami and Navami sacrifice to the deity is a must.

CJ: Chitranjan Sawant

Fri, Sep 18, 2009 11:03:40 IST

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Celebrating Festivals :

THE DUSSEHRA festivities have begun all over the world. The Hindus celebrate the victory of the Good over Evil. The truth triumphs. When the truth triumphs, it should be celebrated. In merry making, the Nepalese are second to none. On the night of the holy Maha Ashtmi, goats are sacrificed to propitiate the Deity. The larger the sacrifice the better it is for the men and women who do it. The sacrifice brings luck and peace coupled with prosperity.

There are a number of Gorkha battalions on active duty with the Indian Army. They celebrate the Dussehra with great gusto. Bara Khana is organised and high dignitaries are invited. Sacrificing goats and in some cases buffalo is a part of the festivities and religious ritual. When the British officers commanded the Gorkha battalions, they celebrated Dussehra as enthusiastically as the hindu Gorkhas. The tradition is continuing with more enthusiasm under the Indian officers.

The news peg round, which this story is woven emanates from Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. On the eve of the festivities of Dussehra, there is an unprecedented demand for goats to be sacrificed and eaten ceremonially thereafter. With a phenomenal rise in population of Kathmandu, the demand for sacrificial goat has gone up too. The supply is not keeping pace with the demand, it has given rise to socio-religious unrest.

The Government of Nepal is concerned about the requirement of sacrificial goats in the capital city. It has ordered government officials to move out of Kathmandu, fan out in the rural areas of Nepal and persuade villagers to bring their goats to the national capital and sell at an unexpected amount of profit. The orders have been passed and are being implemented. The Government of Nepal is hopeful that by the time of sacrifice, goats in large numbers will be available to the citizens. Their socio-religious needs will be met.

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