Animal sacrifice continues unabated during Chhatar Yatra

Kalahandi: The restrictions imposed by Kalahandi district administration failed to deter devotees from sacrificing thousands animals during the famous Chhatar Yatra at Bhawanipatna on Thursday.

Thousands of local residents and devotees from neighbouring districts made a beeline to partake in the procession of Maa Manikeswari, the presiding deity of Kalahandi district.

The Goddess was taken out in a procession from Jenakhal to her temple inside Bhawanipatna Royal Palace following a ritual called ‘Sandhi Puja’ amid traditional beats of Jena Vadya, Ghanta and Ghumura.

Animals, including goats and hen, were sacrificed on the roadside in presence of police and district officials all along the procession from royal palace till Jenakhal (a distance of three kilometers).

A total of 16 platoons of police force were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.

Like every year, special drives were conducted by the district administration before the festival to sensitize people to refrain from animal slaughtering.