BARA: Thousands of devotees have thronged the Gadhimai Mela site here at Bariyapur of the district today. The religious ritual of sacrificing thousands of animals is beginning tomorrow.

Devotees have jam-packed all the eight roads that lead to the temple in Bariyarpur. The large number of pilgrims from neighbouring India has added much life to the Mela.

According to Shiva Chandra Kushwaha, coordinator of Fair Organising Committee, nearly 10 million people have attended the fair so far. "There is not an inch of land unoccupied within the three kilometre area from the Gadhimai Temple," he said.

However, devotees have expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of proper management of roads and drinking water. Dhiraja Mahato, coordinator of Animal Sacrifice Management Sub-committee, said that 12,000 buffaloes had been brought to the fair area till today afternoon. Most of the families in the area have been raising goats so as to offer them to the local deity.

As per the schedule, buffaloes and goats are being sacrificed for two days beginning tomorrow. After worshipping the goddess Gadhimai in tantric way, the rituals of animal sacrifices will follow.

"Almost all the houses in the locale have been full with guests," said Rameshwor Mehata of Simrounagadh, Bara. While, hundreds of organisations, including Nepal Rastrabadi Samuha, Marwadi Sewa Samiti, District Public Health Office, Gopal Sewa Samiti and Brahmakumari Rajyog Sewa Kendra, have set up temporary shelters for the devotees.