New Delhi (ILNS): The Supreme Court has ordered an interim stay on the Orissa High Court order of banning animal sacrifice during Chhatar Yatra in the Kalahandi district.
The bench of Chief Justice S. A. Bobde, Justice A. S. Bopanna and Justice V. Ramasubramanian passed the order while hearing the petition filed by Bhawani Shanker Nial against the High Court judgment seeking interim direction to perform the sacrifice ritual.
The High Court, in its order on January 6, had imposed a ban on sacrifice of animals and birds in and around the precincts of Maa Manikeshwari temple at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district during the festival.
The petition mentioned that the petitioner in the case is not a resident of Kalahandi district and has no knowledge of Chatar Yatra.
“The PIL sought to interfere with the age-old customs and religious beliefs of the people of Kalahandi,” said the petition.
Chhatar Jatra is a traditional festival and ritual practice celebrated by the people of Kalahandi district every year during the Mahastami of Durga puja festival. The chatar of Goddess Manikeswari, after rituals at Jenakhal on the outskirts of the town, is brought back to the temple in a procession. Devotees, then sacrifice animals to appease the deity.
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Last month, the district administration had also stated that there will be no animal sacrifice during the Yatra or congregation of devotees at the temple.
-ILNS