To the Ministers of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Peace Secretariat and Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

Dear Sirs,

We, the signatories, call on the Nepal authorities to end extreme animal cruelty at Gadimai Festival. Each five years in the month of Kartik devotees sacrifice around 200,000 animals (including 6,000 young male buffaloes). Innocent creatures are killed en masse in a very unorganised manner by drunk devotees who enter the temple area with khukuri knives to cut off the heads of frightened buffaloes.

No one can adequately explain why these practices are carried out year after year – except to say they are ‘traditional’. This however is not a valuable argument to commence these practices; Nepal, realising the adverse effects, has abolished a number of ‘traditions’ in the past, including human sacrifice and widow burning.

We feel the time has come to abolish the above practices for the following reasons:

1. Nepal is concerned about the welfare of its precious flora and fauna, and has signed a number of international Wildlife Treaties followed by the introduction of the Meat Act, which introduces humane killing of livestock and poultry. The cruelty displayed in these so-called traditions completely contradicts the spirit and gestures of these treaties and acts.

2. As tourists are abhorred by such practices, the festivals will have an adverse effect on tourism, an industry which provides the country with much-needed financial returns. Those foreigners who experience or come to know the extent of sacrifice in this country leave Nepal confused and with a heavy heart, rather than uplifted by its paradoxical beauty and friendliness.

3. Cruelty against animals harms society as a whole; it signals and normalises insensitivity in children who can become numb to the suffering of living beings, it is also known to influence certain people to commit violence on other humans. Now that the armed conflict has ended Nepal needs peaceful practices that educate the next generation for a harmonious society.

4. Sacrifices often strengthen the vested interest of those who benefit from superstition-based beliefs and rituals. As Nepal is moving ahead to become a more fully democratic, egalitarian society, it is crucial to challenge age-old beliefs which are not beneficial and drain the resources of the poor and needy.

We urge you to end the violent practices and help Nepal move towards a truly peaceful country, and in keeping with its international image. This can be done by introducing and enforcing a much-needed Animal Welfare Act to curb animal cruelty and by promoting genuine animal welfare activities across the country.

We trust that you will support these measures (which are becoming more popular by the day, around the globe and thus promote non-violent cultural practices in Nepal.

Sincerely,

Your Name & Address

Namasté
Hans Lak
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