Punam Phuyal
Gadimai Mela Nepal- The Himalayan country with the richest cultural diversity offers you not only natural beauty but also ancient historical occasions and festivals with great faith and belief as well. At the beginning of 2019, religious people are eager to be in the yard of Goddess Gadhimai. More than half a million pilgrims are on excitement to celebrate this special festival. This time the festival will create a new history without taking the life of animals.
So, here we come with another reason for traveling to Nepal. It’s The Gadi Mai mela coming soon in Nov/Dec 2024. We Mission Summit Treks warmly welcome you to enjoy this festival to fulfill your wishes with the most memorable time ever had.
Gadhi mai mela - the most popular event in Hinduism is celebrated by worshipping goddess Gadhimai at Gadhimai Temple. Around five hundred thousand people visit the Gadimai temple during the posse (mela).
Temple Gadi Mai lies in Bariyarpur, Mahagadhimai Municipality of Bara District. It is about 100 miles far from the south of central Nepal. Also, it is near to the Indo-Nepal border which is adjacent to Bihar. Gadimai is famous as the goddess of power in the Hindu religion. According to the priest of the temple, Gadimai temple exist around one thousand years ago.
Numbers of pilgrim visit and worship Goddess Gadimai then keep some vow ( vakal- some wishes to come true). As they get their votive comes true they give panchabali such as water buffaloes, pigs, goats, chickens, and pigeons during the Gadimai festival. People said that goddess Gadimai will fulfill any of vow of truth and make her worshiper’s happy. Thus, the Gadimai festival is celebrated grandly, and more than 500 thousand pilgrims visit the temple with great faith.
Gadimaii mela is the occasion on which people sacrifice the largest number of animals the name of various vows. It is said that this is the one and only occasion on which large scale of animals lose life in the world. People sacrifice animals to please the goddess Gadimai after getting their wishes.
Around five lakh animals lost their life during sacrification in 2009 but the number decreased by 70 percent during the festival held in 2014. It was because people started offering coconuts, sweets, red-colored clothes, etc instead of animals for pleasing goddess Gadimai.
In April 2015 temple trust of Gadi Mela decide to avoid the scarification of animals with the help of Animal Welfare Network Nepal. After the hard effort from The Jane Goodall Institute Nepal, AWNN-Animal Welfare Network Nepal, and (AfA)-Air Force Academy, the Supreme Court of Nepal gives the decision in favor of ending live animals scarification at the Gadimai festival. Even though it is still not decided on religious faith.
Thus, there is still a question about the Gadimaii Festival 2019, will it be different from its history?? Will no animals lose their life? Will no blood flow in the yard of Gadimai? If this happens then the festival will be full of happiness and a peaceful celebration. Instead of sacrificing animals, people will use plant products.
Gadhimai mela 2024 is going to be held on December 2, 2024. Despite animal right, the sacrificing of animals for welfare of family was continued in 2019. This year the temple has banned to sacrifice pegion. Eventhough the religious people are preparing to sacrifice buffalo. It is a challenge to change the rooted tradition of sacrificing animal in Gadhimai Mela.
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