January 24, 2015

Jade Maestre
57 Ekamai 12 Sukhumvit 63
Klongtan Nhuea, Watthana
Bangkok, Thailand 10110

Dear Mr. Jade,

Recently I had had the opportunity to learn more about the Gadhimai Festival in
Nepal. The Gadhimai Festival is held once every 5 years at the Gadhimai Temple
located about 160 km south of the capital Kathmandu. The festival basically
consists of the slaughter of animals such as water buffaloes, pigs, goats, rats,
pigeons, and others. The main purpose of the festival is to please the goddess of
power, Gadhimai.
On the 24th and the 25th of November, the temples head priest performs a ritual
sacrifice called the Saptabali in which mice, pigeons, roosters, ducks, swine, and
male water buffaloes were offered to the goddess. It is believed that these are
the preferred animals of Gadhimai and this time is considered the peak of the
festival.
During the previous Gadhimai Festival in 2009, about 5 million people attended
this festival which includes citizens from both Nepalese and Indian states. There
was even a pre-emptive measure to prevent the shortage of goats for the
ceremony. The festival started around the first week of November and lasted for
around a month in which it was estimated that around 250,000 animals were
killed.
However, as the popularity of such a festival retains, controversy arises with the
deaths of these animals. Animal rights movement had impeded upon the festival
in attempts to stop the innumerable deaths of the animals. Several protests had
tempted the Nepalese government to cease the constant killings but government
official wishes not to interfere with traditions that had been practiced for multiple
centuries. I personally dont believe in the importance of worn out traditions
should triumph the deaths of innumerable livestock, but the likeliness of the
cessation is highly unlikely.
I hope to hear from you some time soon.
Sincerely yours,

Tanat Boozayaangool