In open defiance of Tripura High Court’s order banning animal sacrifice at Temples, Pashubali continued as usual in Maa Tripureswari Temple at Udaipur, Tripura. The government, thus far, has issued no order regarding the same and made no attempt thus far at enforcing the High Court order. Therefore, Pashubali continued at the Temple as usual.
As reported by Ananda Bazaar Patrika, the district administration said that as they had received no order from the government, the sacrifices would continue as usual. As offices were closed on Saturday and Sunday, the no official order has reached district administration yet. However, later, the authorities had themselves claimed that the sacrifices have been stopped. Then, even one notice was put out announcing that sacrifices ought to be stopped. However, no one paid any attention to the notice and sacrifices went on as usual. Some claim that it was torn and thrown about. The administration claims that they have no idea who put out the notice as they had not received any government order regarding the same.
As it was Amabashya on Saturday, ritualistic Pashubali took place at the Tripureswari Temple. Five goats and one buffalo were sacrificed on this occasion.
The High Court order is also being criticised on social media by the people of Tripura. Some said that the relationship between the Goddess and Her devotees is more important and significant than orders passed by the Court. Others asked how was the order justified when animals are slaughtered for food anyway. Some suggested that the judges ought to learn more about Indian culture and traditions.
Chandan Chakraborty, the head priest of the Shakti Peeth said that he has not received any notification banning animal sacrifice, and the 500 yeas old ritual of animal sacrifice is going on as usual.
Meanwhile, the royal scion of Manikya dynasty, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman, announced that he would appeal against the order in the Supreme Court and asserted that the Court has transgressed its boundaries.
Moving the SC to challenge the order of the Tripura HighCourt on the ban of Animal Sacrifice in our temples . While i believe that opulence and mass slaughter of animals in temples is not required,the HC cannot interfere in customs,culture and have gone beyond their jurisdiction
— Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) September 29, 2019
“Personally, I am against opulent slaughter. I detest it. We should not do large-scale slaughter and restrict ourselves to symbolic one or two slaughters. It is more affordable too for poor tribes and we should not indulge in such a practice in this day and age. But it is an overreach from the High Court when it says you cannot sacrifice at all. Can they do it at the Kamakhya temple? Could we ban Jallikattu, which is not even a temple ritual but a sport? Can they stop Bakrid tomorrow?,” Debbarman told The Indian Express.
The state government, too, is likely to challenge the verdict at the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, a stay on the verdict is also expected to be sought soon.
