Hundreds of goats and hens were publicly slaughtered on the roads during the ‘Chhatar Jatra’ of Maa Manikeswari, held as part of the Maha Ashtami celebrations of Durga Puja, in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on Tuesday.
Kalahandi Superintendent of Police Nagaraj Devarakonda stated that the large-scale festival, which saw the participation of nearly five lakh people, concluded peacefully without any reported untoward incidents.
To maintain law and order, 20 platoons (one platoon comprises 30 personnel) of the state police were deployed, he said.
Despite repeated appeals and awareness campaigns launched by the district administration— utilizing local and social media and holding meetings—a senior official noted that animal sacrifice remains an open practice every year.
The official emphasized the difficulty in stopping the practice without cooperation from the local populace, as the custom is deeply entwined with the religious sentiments of residents, including the dominant Kandha tribe.
“We cannot stop the practice unless locals cooperate” the senior official of the district administration added.
“We used local media and social media, and held meetings to persuade people to desist from animal slaughter,” a senior police officer said.
He further stated the practice is deeply entwined with the religious sentiments of the local population, including the Kandha tribe.
The ‘Chhatar Jatra’ is described as a blend of tribal, royal, and non-tribal cultures. Tribal researcher Bhagaban Sahu noted that the festival is popular in Kalahandi, a region dominated by the Kandha tribe, known for its rich tradition, culture, and musical heritage.
Kalahandi District Magistrate Sachin Pawar had earlier held a series of meetings with senior officials, police and public representatives.
Devotees also release doves in air during the festival.
The festival’s tradition involves Maa Manikeswari secretly moving to Jenakhal, about 3 km from the temple, on the night of Maha Ashtami. The ‘Chhatar Jatra’ marks the return procession of the goddess to her main temple.
The procession began around 5 am with the rhythmic beating of traditional drums like ‘Jena Badya’ and ‘Ghumura Badya’, covering the 3-km route by noon.
Participants included groups dressed as traditional Kandha tribal warriors and demons, alongside groups playing ‘ghanta,’ ‘dhola,’ and ‘nishan.’
The event traditionally begins with the sacrifice of a buffalo, followed by the mass animal sacrifice on the streets, according to a local priest.
The former king of Kalahandi, Maharaja Anant Pratap Deo, received the procession at the temple gates. Devotees also release doves into the air during the festival. ‘Chhatar Jatra’ was also observed in other areas such as Thuamul Rampur and Madanpur Rampur.
The event starts with a sacrifice of a buffalo, followed by mass animal sacrifice on the streets, a priest said.
The erstwhile king of Kalahandi, Maharaja Anant Pratap Deo, received the procession at the temple gates.
‘Chhatar Jatra’ was also taken out in other areas such as Thuamul Rampur and Madanpur Rampur.
