Gadhimai Festival: Reality Check

Gadhimai Festival takes place every five years in Nepal and is seen by many as a religious event in which animals are sacrificed in honour of Goddess Gadhimai. According to online sources, around 3,500 buffaloes were killed during the 2019 event, along with thousands of goats, pigs and chickens, taking the total torture toll to 30,000 animals.

I've seen distressing footage of the festival which shows people beating these innocent animals to their death. Many animals are taken on long and cruel journeys to Gadhimai. The ritual slaughter of buffaloes then involves beheading with a sword or machete. In many cases, multiple strikes are required to sever the head, causing prolonged suffering.

Obviously, as an animal lover, I see this as completely barbaric. But let me be clear. It is not the religion or colour of these people's skin that makes them seem barbaric to me. It is the way they are treating the innocent animals.

Animals are treated like this all over the world. For example, around 10,000 bulls are killed in bullrings in Spain each year. That's 50,000 in 5 years, versus the 30,000 killed at Gadhimai.

How does Gadhimai Festival compare with bullfighting?

Before entering the arena, bulls are sometimes subjected to practices intended to weaken them, including drugging, blunting horns and isolating from their usual environment, causing disorientation and heightened stress. During the bullfight, the bull is subjected to various stages of physical harm:

• Picadors: Mounted fighters stab the bull with lances, aiming to weaken its neck muscles and cause significant blood loss.

• Banderilleros: These fighters stab the bull with barbed sticks (banderillas) into his shoulders, causing further bleeding and muscle damage.

• Matador: In the final act, the matador uses a sword to stab the bull through the heart or lungs. If done improperly, the bull may suffer prolonged agony before dying.

  
  

The bull experiences intense fear, confusion, and stress throughout the event. The injuries inflicted during the fight result in severe pain, exhaustion from blood loss, and physical collapse before death. Even in death, the suffering may not end immediately. If the initial sword thrust fails to kill the bull, it may be dispatched with a dagger or other weapon in a process known as descabello, which is often imprecise and prolongs the animal’s agony.

Both cultural practices inflict pain, fear and suffering on innocent beings.

For many, especially people of colour, it can be disappointing to see the tone and language used by many to describe those taking part at Gadhimai, which is not matched for those participating in bullring torture in Europe.

The bulls in bullrings in Spain and buffaloes and other animals at Gadhimai all feel fear and pain, no matter the race, religion or culture of their torturer. They don't see it differently - so why should you?

Sadly, all around the world, people have traditions which involve killing animals. For example, it's estimated that millions of lamb portions are sold for Easter in the UK, though precise numbers on individual lambs are difficult to determine due to the way meat is processed and sold. It's a bit of a weird concept to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with your family by eating a leg of a dead baby? Each and every one of us can do better - perhaps we should focus on our own traditions and practices before pointing the finger at others.