Hindu group revives horse-killing ritual
Date: Saturday, April 13 @ 06:00:00 EDT
Topic: Hindu News and Information
CALCUTTA — A fundamentalist Hindu group has revived a ritual not performed in India for 500 years by sacrificing 10 horses, horrifying animal rights activists and at least one federal minister.
The group slaughtered 10 stallions in the village of Juna Padia, about 270 miles southwest of Calcutta, on March 29 as 10,000 supporters chanted in praise of the god Rama.
About 150 priests performed the ritual, which is believed to have cost $123,000.
"Some anti-Hindu elements tried their best to stop this holy ritual. But we have succeeded because the god was on our side," said Maharshi Girisurya Swami, a leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, who organized the ceremony.
As required by the ritual, 10 white and perfectly healthy male horses were taken on a tour of the state before being slaughtered on the altar on the 10th day. Blood of the animals was collected in hundreds of earthen pots to be sprinkled on fire and distributed among supporters to preserve at homes.
Before the sacrifice, a "purification ritual" was performed when the horses were forced to stand in the middle of circles of fire, surrounded by the group's supporters to prevent the horses from escaping. The horses suffered extensive burns, witnesses reported to the animal rights campaigners.
Read more on this story at the Washington Times.
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