SUNDAY POST- JAN-4-10
HIMANSHU GURU
The brutality involved in the Sulia Yatra
ritual horrifies animal lovers and sensitive
sections of society, but the practice
continues unhindered…
At a time when a large section of the people is concerned about the well-being of animals and birds and making extensive efforts to alleviate their plight, the tribal people in some districts in western Orissa observed the annual Sulia Yatra at Khairaguda in Bolangir district December 30, 2014 and slaughtered thousands of animals and birds for the sake of upholding their ‘religious’ values. The gruesome event once again shocked animal lovers and social activists. Of course, this is not the only occasion for mass killing of animals in the state, but thanks to the huge number of animal sacrifices Sulia Yatra draws particular attention. Will this cruel practice stop someday? Sunday Post dug deep to find the answer. Here is a small report.
About Sulia Yatra
Sulia Yatra is observed by the tribal people of Bolangir and adjoining districts on the first Tuesday of the bright fortnight (Sukla Paksa) in the Hindu calendar month of Pousha, where a large number of innocent animals including buffaloes, goats, sheep and chickens, pigeons, ducks and swans are slaughtered at Khairaguda of Deogaon in Bolangir district. The festival has been named after Lord Shiva, who carries a three-faced javelin locally called ‘Trisula’. The God who carries a sula is called Sulia Baba. Perhaps this is the only instance where animal sacrifice is made for Lord Shiva. Yet, on this occasion, the adored deity of the tribal is also worshipped along with Lord Shiva.
Earlier, the female members of the community were forbidden from going to the place of worship. They were prohibited from entering the location for fear and apprehension that they might suffer infertility. Even they were not permitted to take the offering (‘prasad’). But nowadays women and children also throng the place where the sacrifices take place.
Sulia Yatra was celebrated in six villages of the district this year. However, the main venues of the festival were the Badkhala and Sankhala of Khairguda village under the Deogaon Panchayat Samiti. In addition, it was also celebrated in nearby villages like Chandrapur, Chantipadar near Tusura, Kharlikani and Mirdhapali.
The festival begins in the evening with the worship of Lord Mahadev of the village Khairguda. Hundreds of devotees, both tribal as well as non-tribal, assemble near the temple on this occasion. On the festival day, the chief tribal priest called ‘Deheri’ brings the Shakti to the venue in a carnival. The offerings are kept in three bamboo poles. At first, the vegetarian bhog that consists of milk and coconuts is offered to Sulia Baba. And then comes the time for non-vegetarian offerings.
The ritual of animal sacrifice continues amid the beats of the Dhol, Madal, Nisan, Ghant and Gini. The combined sound of these musical instruments is enough to suppress the yell and cry of the innocent animals. The ritual killers do not hesitate to chop the heads of the animals in a second.
Unlike other normal worships, here there is no specialised priest to chant and recite traditional mantras. Significantly, there is no restriction and compulsion if the devotees want to offer the bhog on their own. This is why even though there are sacrificial killers or ritual killers to assist the devotees in the process of offering animals to the presiding deity, some devotees are found slaughtering the animals themselves and offering the same to the deity on their own.
Controversy
In 2005-2006, animal lovers, social workers and well-meaning citizens raised their voice against this gruesome mass-killing of animals in the name of tradition and religion. The Sulia Sanskar Manch spearheaded the protest. Later, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Orissa High Court challenging the practice of animal slaughter. Resultantly, the court directed Bolangir district administration to stop the practice at the main yatra centre in Khairguda, called ‘Bad Khala’ in the year 2006. Consequently, the district administration took solid steps and succeeded to stop the ‘sacrifices’ that year with the help of the Sulia Sanskar Manch. Though animal killing was stopped at the main venue that year, still a few sacrifices took place in another place called Saan Khala, as per reports that came then. Since then, the district administration and social activists are trying hard to do away with the age-old evil tradition, but practically the brutal ritual is still rampant. Though the district administration has made efforts in the last few years to stop animal sacrifice by creating awareness, its directives have been openly flouted by the tribal.
The other side of the coin
While the non-tribal people, animal lovers and many others are sad about the brutal killings of innocent animals and birds, the organisers of the festival have a different story to tell. Talking to Sunday Post
Braja Kishore Singh Bhoi, president, Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangha, Bolangir said, “This is our tribal tradition. Animal slaughter is going on in the middle of the towns in many places. In Bhawanipatna a large number of animals are slaughtered in the heart of the town and government provides proper facilities to execute the fair. However, when we are observing our very tradition in an isolated place inside the jungle and that is only on a single day in the whole year, why we are being opposed??Anybody who does not want to witness should not visit the place. Besides, true to our tradition we only sacrifice one buffalo, one goat and one hen for the worship. But, the people who do ‘manasika’ come with their own animals to sacrifice. We will not stop our practice since it is our tradition. Everybody should pay respect to our inner feelings. And we are ready to face any challenge to preserve our tribal tradition, culture and heritage. Besides, a lot of funds is coming from the Centre for tribal development, but it is largely diverted by the state government. Why are these problems are not taken up?” he asked.
In 2014
Despite the Orissa High Court’s orders and the district administration’s attempt to prevent animal sacrifice, hundreds of animals and birds were slaughtered during Sulia Yatra December 30, 2014. Defying Section 144 imposed by the district administration as a preventive measure, tribal people celebrated the annual Sulia Yatra at Khairaguda and slaughtered a large number of animals in the presence of three platoons of police force. Around one lakh people took part in the festival!
According to reports, the tribal people marched in a procession to the ritual site at Sanakhala in Kumuria village and performed the sacrifices there. Later, the same was done at Badakhala of Khairguda, the main place of the festival. Neither the police nor the senior officials of the district made any effort to prevent the people from performing the traditional sacrifice. They only stood as mute spectators to the gruesome practice.
Photos: Birendra Jhankar
