The Gadhimai festival, a traditional Hindu event held every five years in Nepal, is under renewed scrutiny for its mass animal sacrifices intended to appease the goddess Gadhimai. In 2019, estimates indicated up to 250,000 animals were killed during the festival. Despite interventions by Nepalese and Indian courts to phase out and restrict animal sacrifices, the practice persists, with the latest round expected to commence on December 8, 2024. Animal welfare activists continue to advocate for an end to the practice, citing cruelty and exploitation of impoverished communities.
Gadhimai festival is a traditional Hindu event held in Nepal
