Post News Network
Bolangir, Jan 12: The roads of Khairguda village under Tushra block in Bolangir district turned a tinge of red as thousands of animals and birds were sacrificed at the Sulia shrine in the village on the occasion of Sulia Yatra Tuesday.
The animal sacrifice was carried out notwithstanding the head priest Biranchi Narayan Kuanr’s attempts to stop the menace during the Sulia Yatra which is a major tribal festival in the region. As a last ditch effort, Kuanr Sunday wrote to the collector and superintendent of police (SP) requesting them to make efforts to stop the animal sacrifice.
Kuanr, who is also the managing trustee of the Sulia shrine, remained absent along with his son Niranjan Kuanr during the festival. However, his attempts to prevent the animal sacrifice failed to impress the locals as the district administration bowed to the demands of the Sulia Yatra committee and Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh and gave its nod for the mass animal sacrifice.
Two days before the festival, the district administration did nothing to prevent the sacrifice apart from sending out a request to the Sulia Yatra committee and Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh to reduce the number of animals that would be sacrificed.
It was found only to be managing the law and order situation at the site and acting as a mute spectator when tribals went on sacrificing thousands of animals accompanied by the blowing of conch shells, and beating of cymbals as the devotees swayed to the music. However, no untoward incident occurred during the festival.
The animals were sacrificed at Badakhala in the Sulia shrine at Khairaguda, Sanakhala in Kumuria, Hirlimal as well as Kharlikani and Mirdhapali under Sadar police limits. Over 50,000 people from the district as well as from adjoining Subarnapur, Kalahandi, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Nuapada, Boudh Kandhmal and outside the state attended the festival.
When contacted, collector M Muthukumar said the administration will not interfere in the matter as the Supreme Court has directed not to intervene in religious affairs of the people.
