Nepal devotees sacrifice thousands of animals in Hindu ritual

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/nepal/11260264/Nepal-devotees-sacrifice-thousands-of-animals-in-Hindu-ritual.html

Nepal devotees sacrifice thousands of animals in Hindu ritual
Hindu devotees ignore animal rights campaign by slaughtering thousands of animals in ritual sacrifice
By Reuters 11:50AM GMT 28 Nov 2014

Sword-wielding Hindu devotees in Nepal began slaughtering thousands of animals and birds in a ritual sacrifice on Friday, ignoring calls by animal rights activists to halt what they described as the world's largest such exercise.

More than 80 per cent of Nepal's 27 million people are Hindus, but unlike most of their counterparts in neighbouring India, they frequently sacrifice animals to appease deities during festivals.

Authorities deployed hundreds of police personnel to make sure there were no clashes between activists and the devotees.

"It is a ritual connected with people's faith," said Yogendra Dulal, an assistant administrator of the Bara district, where the temple is located. "We can't hurt their sentiments and ban the practice."

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