As residents of Kalkhamb village in Belagavi taluk await the eight-day Sree Laxmi Devi Jatra Mahotsava, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, the possibilities of animal sacrifice are not ruled out. Families have started extending invitation to relatives and friends for a special feast, which will include special dishes made of sheep or goat meat. The jatra is being held after 16 years.
Despite prohibition of sacrifice of animals and birds in temples and in places of religious worship, it is being carried out by devotees in villages during annual festivities at temples of goddesses. Dayananda Swami, president of Vishwa Prani Kalyana Mandali, has been conducting programmes to create awareness against animal sacrifice in places of worship all over the State.
Local administrations have been taking steps to implement the Karnataka Prevention of Animal Sacrifices Act, 1959, following a directive of the High Court of Karnataka and police personnel are being deployed to keep a watch on festivities.
But, a village resident told The Hindu on Tuesday that the practice of sacrificing a sheep or a goat or a bird was still in vogue and it was being carried out during special festivities. As there was a ban by the government, it would not be allowed on the temple premises. Many families go ahead with ritualistic sacrifices in their houses.
President of the temple management committee Babu Patil said preparations for the festivities were in full swing. A ratha yatra of Goddess Laxmi, the presiding deity of the village, would be taken out at 10 a.m. on the first day.
Another member of the committee said there was no practice of distributing mahaprasada, as families keep hosting feasts to their relatives and friends during the festivities.
Temple festival
The Sree Laxmi Devi Temple was constructed in 1955
The first jatra mahotsava was held in 1970, second in 1999
The village panch will decide the schedule for the next mahotsav and announce it on April 29
