Rajbiraj, November 26

Celebrity guru Baba Ramdev said the ongoing practice of animal sacrifice at the popular Hindu shrine of Chhinnamasta Bhagawati should be stopped.

Speaking at a programme at the shrine today, Baba Ramdev said, “Animal sacrifice is a cruel act and can by no way make the deities happy; it is high time we stopped following such practices.”

He was here to pay his respect to the shrine and speak on the value of yoga and the upcoming Lakshyachandi Mahayagya slated for the coming March/April.

Further, highlighting the need for absolute faith and reverence to god, Baba Ramdev also gave examples from India where the practice of animal sacrifice has been stopped.

“The custom of animal sacrifice symbolises the sacrifice of bad habits; it shouldn’t be taken literally,,” he said.

Baba Ramdev also took the opportunity to advocate yoga to keep oneself fit and healthy. On his part, Acharya Balkrishna urged for an end to the practice of animal sacrifice and added he was happy that it is slowly disappearing.

On the occasion, the main priest of the shrine Mahakanta Thakur pledged to be vegetarian from then on and do all he could to end animal sacrifice at the shrine.

Founding Chairperson of the Non-Resident Nepali Association Upendra Mahato declared a donation of Rs 1 lakh for the mahayagya, while Patanjali Yogpeeth also committed to donating 5 lakh rupees.

Every year, over 30,000 animals are sacrificed at the Chhinnamasta Bhagawati shrine by devotees. As per data with the shrine, around 5,147 animals were sacrificed during Dashain last year alone. The shrine had received Rs 332,000 from the animal sacrifices then.

Police manhandle Nepali journos

RAJBIRAJ: Nepali journalists were barred from accompanying celebrity guru Baba Ramdev during the programme at the Chhinnamasta Bhagawati shrine on Saturday. While police stopped Nepali journalists outside the shrine, Indian journalists were allowed to enter the shrine freely. According to journalists, a team led by Saptari SP Diwesh Lohani abused journalists on the site.