Victory!! NO MORE Gadhimai animal sacrifices!!

Victory, victory, victory!!!!

Read all about it here, this is from HSI: (please click on all the links too)

I have momentous news to share: HSI, along with Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN), have successfully convinced the trustees of the Gadhimai temple in Nepal to forbid animal sacrifice at future festivals. This means that animals like water buffalo, cows, goats, chickens, pigeons and pigs will be spared a grisly death by bludgeoning or decapitation in the horrific slaughter that happens there every five years.

This significant development comes eight months after the end of last year’s bloodbath that you stood with us to fight.

Read more about the progress you helped make and how our dedicated team in India achieved it >>

We also successfully convinced the Supreme Court of India to uphold its order to prohibit border crossings of animals during the festival timeframe. Up to 70 percent of those slaughtered at Gadhimai come from India, making this crucial to preventing their transport by festival attendees unaware of the new ban on killing.

The Supreme Court went a step further and insisted on the establishment of SPCAs in all districts in the three Indian states adjoining Nepal. The new SPCAs will tackle animal cruelty in general.

While these developments are tremendously exciting, a monumental task still lies ahead of us: getting the word out in rural India before the next festival in 2019, to ensure that people know another massacre won’t be tolerated. HSI and AWNN are already planning a massive outreach campaign – we’ll keep you updated.

Our team from India and Nepal who attended the Gadhimai festival last year witnessed absolutely harrowing scenes. After months of fighting from every angle to prevent the killing, they sat up through the night in the last hours before the slaughter began, still imploring the Temple trustees to stop the impending carnage.Get the full story here >>

Now, we know their pleas – along with the tens of thousands of messages from our supporters and citizens of the world – were heard. We press on in our fight to protect animals with renewed energy; this victory is evidence that we can make a real difference.

Thank you for standing with us to confront cruelty and celebrate animals.

Sincerely,

Andrew Rowan
President and CEO
Humane Society International

Thank you, thank you, thank you, HSI!!

Animals are here WITH us, not for us!

HSI also encourages everyone to thank Gadhimai Temple for agreeing to end this ritualistic slaughter. Please use the link to do so.

More facts from HSI:

In 2014, HSI/India and AWNN’s global campaign against the Gadhimai animal massacre captured the public imagination when thousands of national and international supporters expressed their ire and displeasure against the ruthless killing. Protests were held worldwide.

With the Supreme Court of India’s intervention to prohibit the movement of animals from India to Nepal, AWNN and HSI/India saw a reduction of up to 70 percent in the number of animals sacrificed from 2009. The Supreme Court’s order resulted in more than 100 arrests of those breaching the order, and more than 2,500 animals saved. Earlier this month the Supreme Court of India issued directions to states to set up mechanisms to prevent animals from being taken to Gadhimai in future and create awareness against animal sacrifice.

Earlier this year, following the global outrage stemming from the Gadhimai massacre, the temple committee also decided not to sacrifice any animals during the harvest festival (Sankranti). Instead, the temple officials have been confiscating the animals and caring for them until rescuers can rehome them.

Mr Ram Chandra Shah, Chairman of the Gadhimai Temple Trust, issued a statement on the decision to stop holding animal sacrifices during the Gadhimai festival, which can be foundhere.

Please thank the Temple Trustees for their decision. Then, consider donating to support our lifesaving work. You can also sign up to receive more news and action alerts about animal protection.

Facts:

• It is estimated that more than 500,000 buffalo, goats, chickens and other animals were decapitated at Gadhimai in 2009, but in 2014 the numbers had reduced by 70 percent.
• The origins of Gadhimai date back around 265 years ago, when the founder of the Gadhimai Temple, Bhagwan Chowdhary, had a dream that the goddess Gadhimai wanted blood in return for freeing him from prison, protecting him from evil and promising prosperity and power. The goddess asked for a human sacrifice, but Chowdhary successfully offered an animal instead, and this been repeated every five years since.
• Among others, President Emeritus of the World Council of Arya Samaj and noted social activist Swami Agnivesh were at the forefront of urging Indian devotees to boycott the mass slaughter by holding a hunger strike at the heart of the temple.
• B. D. Sharma, director general of SSB, was awarded with the ‘Leadership in Animal Welfare’ award for his exemplary contribution in curbing the illegal transport of animals during Gadhimai.

May we all live in peace and harmony with each other. Preserve and honour life, not destroy.