Kathmandu, May 2:

While many people celebrated the Buddha Jayanti by spreading the message of peace and non-violence today, many others, marking their Dewali puja, sacrificed animals to please their gods and goddesses at temples in Kathmandu.

Butter lamps were lit, prayer sessions held and peace marches organised to mark the day the Buddha was born, enlightened and attained salvation.

The same day, many people performed Dewali puja and sacrificed aninmals to “please” their deities.

People sacrificed he-goats, cocks and offered eggs to the almighty at the Hattigauda-based Naulin Bhadrakali temple. Kumar Pradhan of Hattigauda, sacrificing a cock at the temple, said, “We sacrifice animals at the temple every year on this day. Naulin Bhadrakali is our deity and sacrificing animals on this day is our tradition.”

About 50 goats and around 200 cocks were sacrificed to the goddess. Bhim Lal Mahajan, today’s in-charge of the activities at the temple, said, “Tradition cannot be modified easily because it is directly linked to people’s beliefs.”

Dr Punya Prasad Dangal, president of the Vedic Dharma Samrakshyan Samiti and Vedic Anusandhan Pratisthan, said that the tradition of sacrifice animals is bad. “People sacrifice animals to gods and goddesses according to Hindu tradition. So far as my understanding goes, sacrifice of life is not good,” he said, adding, “It’s objectionable during the Buddha Jayanti.”

Dangal suggested the people to organise Hom during Dewali Puja.

An expert on Buddhism, Khenpo T Dorje Lama, said, “According to Buddhism, taking life of any creature on the Buddha Jayanti is the greatest sin. “We rather believe in releasing animals and birds today,” he said, adding, “Being the citizen of a secular state, we have no right to condemn the sacrifices made by Hindus, but it is better if killing is substituted by other offerings.”

Many people do not understand the meaning of sacrifice, he said. “We should sacrifice our egos, not innocent animals.”